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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




BOL 

TO ASSIST PERSONS IN ^CEIVING, RETAIN- 
ING, AND SPREADIN * THE RELIGION 
OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 



By HENRY BREEDER. 

With numerous corrections and additions, 
By JOHN MILES, Primitive Methodist Preacher. 



Follow Holiness, Heb. xii, 14. 

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, doit with thy might Ecci. ix. 10. 



NEW-YORK : 

J. M. Marsh, Print. 5 Eldridge-Street. 

To be had at No. 152 Houstoun-Street, 170 Elm-Street, N. Y. and 
at No. 84 1-2 Fulton-St., Brooklyn. 



1841. 












Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, 
by John Miles, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of 
the Southern District of New-York. 



i, 3 r* 



DEDICATION, 



TO THE 

Preachers, Leaders, and Members of the Methodist Societies f 

and to all ivho love our Lord Jesus Christ, in sincerity t 

this Work is humbly Dedicated by 

THE COMPILER. 



Dear Brethren, 

It is with peculiar feelings this little 
Book is published. Feelings of desire that it may have a 
candid perusal — a prayerful attention — and the blessing of 
God to follow it into every house. Many will read a little, 
when they will not read much ; — many would seek God if 
they knew the right way ;— and many now in the Church 
would be far more useful if they knew what instruments to 
use, and how to use them. This little Book may assist such. 
And should one poor sinner be directed by it into the right 
way, or one idle or ignorant professor be stirred up to labour 
for God with all his might, the end for which ibis has been 
published, is answered, and the point gained. To God be 
all the glory. J. M. 

AtoYor*, 18tL 



A CALL 
To Holiness and Usefulness. 



CHAP. I. 

ON THE FALLEN STATE OF MAN. 

1. Man is corrupt. Of necessity God made 
Adam the first man holy, happy, and wise : able 
to stand and free to fall. He was not forced to 
fall either by the Lord or the tempter ; but of his 
own choice, he chose to break God's command- 
ment, and lose his glory. By this fall he lost all 
moral goodness whatever, and his heart became 
evil, and nothing else but evil; as the following 
passage of scripture most clearly proves : And 
God saw that the wickedness of man was great 
in the earth, and that every imagination of the 
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually* 
Now Adam was a general representative of all 
mankind, who were then in his loins ; so that all 
mankind virtually fell with him, into all the mo- 
ral evil in which he sunk. The sacred writers 
are not speaking of a few solitary individuals ; 
* Genesis 6, 5. 



6 

but they are describing man in the mass, when 
they say: Foolishness is bound in the heart of a 
child.* The heart is deceitful above all things, 
and desperately wicked : who can know it ?\ For 
out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, 
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, 
blasphemies. J The carnal mind is enmity against 
God : for it is not subject to the law of God, nei- 
ther indeed can be.^ In fact the plain humbling 
truth is this : no man of all the human race can 
ever enter into heaven ; unless his heart be 
changed, by the grace of God, from sin to holi- 
ness. Our Lord Jesus Christ has most pointedly 
said: Except a man be born of water and of the 
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
That which is born of the flesh is flesh ; and that 
which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not 
that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.\\ 

2. Man is sinful by practice. For if such be 
the tree, what must the fruit be ? Can a corrupt 
tree bring forth good fruit ? By no means. See 
how sin brings forth every action of an un- 
converted man, and then examine the actions 
themselves ; and you will find in many actions 
enough sin, to sink the soul to ten thousand hells 

* Prov. 22, 15. i Jer. 17, 9. % Matt. 15, 19. 
J Rom. 8, 7. || JohnS, 6-7. 



7 
if there were so many. See that infant on its 
mother's knee, and then you see a fallen crea- 
ture, that early bears the fruit of corruption ; as 
may be proved from its almost unconquerable 
struggles of self will, and corruption-sprung 
bursts of passion : which make ones eye weep> 
and heart ache to feel ones self a man. Hear 
that blasphemer call his God to curse his eyes 
and limbs ; and you will shudder till you cool at 
such an awful swearer's prayer. May God in 
mercy save his soul. Mark how God's holy sab- 
bath day is abused and broken. See the Sunday 
morning barber, how he shakes his razor at his 
God. And the Sunday miller, how he turns his 
mill sails with God Almighty's Sunday wind ; 
and thereby tells the neighborhood, that he is on 
his way to hell. Look at that man who is gar- 
dening on the Sabbath morning, after having been 
intoxicated on the Saturday night. Look at him, 
he toils hard to get to ruin. Look at him, for 
unless he repents you will not see him long; he 
is going to make his bed in flames : Where their 
worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.* 
As for the Sunday butchers, and bakers, and rum 
sellers, and indeed all Sunday tradesmen, you 
may look above their store doors any Sunday 

* Mar, 9, 48. 



8 
morning, and read it in legible characters : this 
is the way to hell. Many young people seem 
now on full stretch for ruin. They sin against 
their praying parents and their God : against the 
clearest light and keenest remonstrances of con- 
science : against the tears, prayers, and blood of 
Jesus. They are men ruiners, and women min- 
ers. But what is worst of all they are not hum- 
bled for their sins. Many a young man and wo- 
man have been cut off at eighteen, and put into 
hell, to keep them from doing any further injury 
in the world. Oh how true is the following pas- 
sage of scripture : Their throat is an open sepul- 
chre ; with their tongues they have used deceit ; 
the poison of asps is under their lips ; whose 
mouth is full of cursing and bitterness : their 
feet are swift to shed blood : destruction and mi- 
sery are in their ways : and the way of peace 
have they not known : there is no fear of God 
before their eyes : — that every mouth may be stop- 
ped, and all the world may become guilty before 
God* 

3. Man is miserable. As sin and sorrow are 
twin sisters, men are miserable as well as wicked. 
Misery, deep toned misery stuns the mind of eve- 
ry unconverted human creature. And indeed 

* Rom. 3, 13, 19. 



9 

so it must be; for nothing less than the ever- 
blessed God can make a man happy in his mind. 
And alas for poor sinners, they are without God 
in the world ! If you look among men you will 
see much that appears to be joy; but you must 
not conclude that all are happy who look glad. 
There is many an aching heart under a smiling 
face. When you look at a lively green grass 
grave, you scarcely remember that death is un- 
der it ; and so under many a lively countenance 
there is a dead sad heart. And there needs be 
no wonder at this ; for who can be happy when 
he knows : The wicked shall he turned into hell, 
and all the nations that forget God ?* What 
young dancer can be happy, when he knows he 
is dancing quick-step down to endless night and 
groans ? What young mocker of his father or 
mother can be happy, when he knows the ravens 
of the valley shall pick out his eyes ? Who can 
sleep easy, that knows he is in danger of opening 
his eyes in hell ? When a man is gaining the 
world, it makes him look pale, to remember that 
he must lose his own soul. And then when his 
soul is lost, his all is lost. Speak out ye sons of 
mirth and tell us, do ye not feel the heart ache, 
when you think of a death-bed, an angry God t a 

* Psa. 9, 17. 
1* 



10 

burning world, a judgment seat, and an awful 
eternity? However, whether you answer this 
question or not, of this we are assured, that hap- 
piness out of Christ can ne'er be found. And al- 
though you may lull yourselves and shun the 
thought : There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto 
the wicked.* 

4. Man is in danger. Every unconverted sin- 
ner in the world is in danger of being plunged 
into eternal torments every moment of his life. 
Unconverted persons live by mere sufferance : 
they have no right to live for they are condemned 
already. Such people are much indebted to Je- 
sus, for it is through his much abused, but length- 
ened prayers that they are out of hell. Their 
danger is most imminent. The danger arises, 

1st. From the notice God takes of sin. 

2d. From the thoughts he has about sinners. 

3d. From the purposes he has concerning 
them. 

4th. From the resources he has to execute his 
purposes. First, from the notice God takes of 
sin. Every sin that you have committed, the 
eye of your Judge has been upon you. For : All 
things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him 
with whom we have to do.\ All your sins, how- 

* Isa. 48, 22. t Heb. 4, 13. 



11 

ever secret are written down in his book, to be 
remembered. For : God shall bring every work 
into judgment, with every secret thing, whether 
it be good, or whether it be evil* Secondly, 
from the thoughts he has about sinners. He con- 
siders every sin an insult, and an offence to his 
Majesty, and an abominable thing which his soul 
hates. Hence : God is angry with the wicked 
every day.\ Oh how awful for him to be angry 
with a man. If every man in the world were 
your fell settled enemy, you would be in a better 
condition than you are, now God is angry. His 
frown is hell. Thirdly, there is danger, from 
his purposes concerning sinners. His purposes 
are firm. Read the following quotation ; and 
then you will know what he intends to do with 
impenitent sinners : Indignation and wrath, trib- 
ulation and anguish, upon every soul of man 
that doeth evil.% Fourthly, there is danger, from 
the resources that he has to execute his purposes. 
God knows how to damn a man. He can kill 
the body, and cast the soul into hell. Go to the 
death-bed side of the sinner, and see him take his 
leap into the dark. When his eye-balls roll in 
wild affright : — his tongue faulters in his mouth : 
— death sits vacant on his brow ; — and death- 

* Eccles. 12, 14. t Psa. 7, 11. t Rom. 2, 8-9. 



12 

sweats bathe his frame. When he shrieks, and 
horror strikes the standers by. Go, sinner, go 
and eye him. You may learn something, when 
he drinks off his last drop of lingering mercy, 
which is nearly on a blaze ; and then foaming, 
casts himself, into that endless ever-sounding 
sea, of darkness, fire and pain. As he enters 
the mouth of the pit, he will find it bearded with 
misery and woe. He may then begin his ever- 
lasting dirge : The battle's fought, the victory's 
lost — the battle's fought, and the victory's losU 
for ever. Then the way to the mercy-seat will 
be blocked up for ever. — Then the horns of the 
altar can never be grasped any more—Then the 
wings of the cherubim will for ever fall. — Then 
God's long abused redeeming truth-book, the 
bible, will be for ever shut, and sealed to his poor 
soul, with more than seven seals. Then he may 
begin and lament with the Poet, in such-like 
doleful strains as the following : — 

li Infinite years in torments must I spend, 

" And never, never, never, have an end ! 

i( Oh ! must I dwell in torturing despair, 

" As many years, as atoms in the air? 

" When these are spent, as many thousands more 3 

* s As grains of sand upon the ocean's shore ? 

4i When these are done, as many yet behind, 

" As leaves i' the forest shaken by the wind f 



13 

« When these are gone, as many to ensue, 
« As blades of grass on hills and dales that grew ! 
» When these run out, as many on the march, 
" As starry lamps that gild the spangled arch? 
" When these expire, as many millions more, 
" As moments in the millions past before ? 
" When all these doleful years are spent in pain, 
" And multiplied by myriads yet again, 
" Till numbers drown the thought ; could I suppose, 
" That then my wretched years were at a close, 
" This would afford a hope— but, oh ! I shiver, 
" To think upon the dreadful words, for ever! 
»< I in the burning gulf blaspheming lie, 
M Time is no more, but vast Eternity ?" 
Jehovah's anger in worse than a million hells. 
And he says : The smoke of their torment as- 
cendeth up for ever and ever* Eternity ! eter- 
nity ! eternity! awful, deep, dark, profound 
Eternity ! Reader, may God save thee and me, 
from the bitter pains of eternal death. 

5. Man is helpless. To this awful eternity 
men stand exposed every moment ; and of them- 
selves they are most completely helpless. They 
cannot atone for their own sins ;— kill their own 
corruptions ;— make themselves happy,— or de- 
liver themselves from the pit of sin, nor from the 
old awful pit of vipers and fiends. Neither by 
suffering, nor yet good works, can any human 

* Rev. 14, 11. 



14 
creature save himself. The self-made atonement 
of a sinner, and his self-wrought righteousness, 
will not stand before the following sayings, of 
the mouth of the Lord. Except your righteous- 
ness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes 
and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the 
kingdom of heaven.* Woe unto you, Scribes 
and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are liken 
unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear 
beautiful outward, but are within full of dead 
men's bones, and of all uncleanness.\ It is our 
misfortune to be conceived in sin. But it is our 
crime to live a life of sin. God freely and spon- 
taneously gave his well-beloved Son, to take up- 
on him human nature, and to die for the sins of 
men. His controversy is not with human na- 
ture ; but with sin in human nature. The ever- 
blessed Jesus now waits and calls, for the return 
of sinful men. Sinner, you may come and wel- 
come ; but mind and come soon, or you will lose 
yourself, and then you may weep and lament, 
but no one will take any notice of your tears. It 
is true, men are corrupt, sinful, miserable, in 
danger, and helpless ; but their help is laid on 
one that is mighty : therefore, we will weep, 
pray and labor on ; and trust God for effects. — 
May he give us a heart to it. 

* Matt. 5, 20. t Matt. 23, 27. 



15 

Who would not breathe a sigh, and shed a tear 
o'er such a fallen low-sunk race as this ? Envy 
not the man that can be calm. He knows but 
little — he feels but little of the importance of an 
immortal soul. Moses was a man of concern for 
souls. He manifested it by praying for the mur- 
muring children of Israel ; and though wonderful 
to relate, yet God pardoned in an instant, in an- 
swer to his prayer, the sins of six hundred thou- 
sand souls* Hallelujah ! His arm is not short- 
ened ! Jeremiah was a man of concern also. He 
wailed and said : Oh that my head were waters, 
and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might 
weep day and night, for the slain of the daughter 
of my peopled How fine to weep for God and 
salvation ! May the number of those who sigh 
and cry, increase abundantly. The God-man 
wept and was moved with compassion, when he 
saw Judea sinners fainting, and scattered abroad, 
as sheep having no shepherd.* Most undoubted- 
ly, this world will one day be converted to God; 
but before that comes to pass, there must be 
much more going to God in prayer, and staying 
with him, to bewail the sins of the people — to 
confess them with particularity — to cast them on 
the atonement, in faith — to plead the promises, 

* Num. 14, 20. t Jer. 9, 1. i Matt. 9, 36. 



16 

in hope against all human hope — and to claim 
much more New Testament unction on the 
Church and the world. Christians, let us arise, 
and wo to his throne — and shake ourselves from 
the dust of our sins — and get our bones clothed 
with flesh — and our spirits filled with breath — 
and then let us plead, and God will answer. Ye 
that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence : 
and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he 
make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. % O Lord 
shed abroad a greater burning in the hearts of 
the people, and hasten again " the old times." 



CHAP. II. 

ON THE RICH PROVISION, WHICH GOD HAS MADE, 
UNSOLICITEDLY, FOR THE SALVATION OF MEN. 

Many persons are frequently speaking of man, 
as though he remained in the state of hopeless 
misery, into which he had fallen before God gave 
him the promise in the garden of Eden ; but it 
should be distinctly remembered, that he has al- 
ready done much for us, and is now doing much 
every moment, and is waiting for us to concur 
with his saving plan, that he may do abundantly 
more, according to his promises. It is true, we 
"" * lsa. 62,6-7. 



17 

can do nothing of ourselves, nor for ourselves ; 
but Jesus Christ has undertaken our cause; and 
has engaged to do with us, and for us, every thing 
that is needful, both for our present and ever- 
lasting salvation. 

1. Man is an object of the love of God the Fa- 
ther. Love boundless, bottomless, and infinite 
as God its author. It is amazing, that his heart 
should spontaneously fix on creatures so abo- 
minable and base ; but the truth of it is quite as 
firm, as the amazement is great. The holy scrip- 
tures speak best on this unspeakable subject. — 
How fine the following passages are: In this was 
manifested the love of God towards us, because 
that God sent his only begotten Son into the 
world, that we might live through him. Herein 
is loves 'not that we loved God, but that he loved 
us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for 
our sins* For God so loved the world, that he 
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever be- 
lieveth in him should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life.\ 

2. Man is redeemed by the mediatorial acts of 
God the Son. In the beginning was the Word, 
and the Word was with God, and the Word was 
God. The same was in the beginning with God* 

# 2 John 4, 9-10. t John 3, 16. 



18 

All things were made by him ; and without him 
was not any thing made that was made. In him 
was life : and the life was the light of men* In 
ancient days, he frequently manifested himself 
to the Jewish Prophets, and renewed the pro- 
mise of his coming to redeem the lost race. In 
the fulness of time he took upon him a human 
soul, and a human body; and was born a babe 
in Bethlehem. When about thirty years of age, 
he was baptized of John in Jordan ; and also 
anointed with the oil of gladness above his fel- 
lows : he then began to preach in Judea the gos- 
pel of the kingdom of God — he performed mira- 
cles which showed the goodness of his love, and 
the greatness of his power — he healed the sick — 
he cleansed the lepers — he restored the blind, 
and deaf, and dumb — he stilled the winds and 
waves, and walked upon the sea — he raised the 
dead from the bed, the bier, and the tomb — he 
cast out devils and he pardoned sins. When the 
hour was come, he went into the garden of Geth- 
semane ; and there it pleased the Father to bruise 
him, and put him to grief. And being in an 
agony he prayed more earnestly ; and his sweat 
was as it were great drops of blood falling down 
to the ground.^ That was an awful hour ! Then 

* John 1, 1-4. t Luke 22, 44. 



19 

the fate of the world hung pending. Immediately 
after his agony, Judas betrayed him ; and the 
Jews bound him, and led him away to the bloody 
city — the old pool of the prophet's blood. There 
they tried him ; but could find no fault in him : 
yet they crowned his head with thorns — mocked 
him — spit upon him — smote him — impiously 
slew him, and hung him on a tree. His hands, 
and feet, and side were nailed and pierced : and 
blood and water flowed, a double flood, that 
washes white as snow. And now : 

" Its streams the whole creation reach, 

" So plenteous is the store; 
li Enough for all, enough for each, 

" Enough for evermore. " 

On the third day he arose from the dead ; and 
afterward went into heaven to pray. There he 
sits at his Father's right hand, making interces- 
sion for us men, and for our salvation. But we 
see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the 
angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with 
glory and honour ; that he by the grace of God 
should taste death for every man* 

3. Man is enlightened and operated upon, by 
God the Holy Ghost. Yea, the whole world is 
full of the Spirit of God. And it shall tome to 

* Heb. 2, 9. 



20 

pass in the last days saith God, I will pour out 
my Spirit upon all flesh.* The strivings of God's 
Spirit are general ; and all men are benefitted 
thereby. Many of the wicked are so convicted 
of sin, that they secretly smite upon their breasts 
and cry, God be merciful to me a sinner. They 
are most awfully alarmed, and fears of the most 
painful kind haunt them. Thoughts of death, 
and judgment, and heaven and hell very often 
distress them ; and cause them to sigh for mercy. 
They see the happiness of the people of God, 
and secretly envy them, and wish they were in 
the same state. Now the finger of God is in all 
this ; and if the sinner would yield, these striv- 
ings would lead to salvation. But most people 
resist the Holy Ghost ; and presumptuously go 
on in sin. Nevertheless, God is clear, and the 
wicked are without excuse. 

4. The ever-blessed triune God offers to all 
mankind, by his gracious word, a free, full, pre- 
sent, and everlasting salvation. Free without 
money — full without measure — present this mo- 
ment — and lasting as eternity. 

1st. This salvation is spiritual in its nature. It 
is, the love of God — shed abroad in our hearts by 
the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.i This 

• Acts 2, 17. t Rom. 5, 5. 



21 

love delivers us from the love of sin — the guilt of 
sin — the power of sin — the remains of sin — and 
from everlasting punishment as the consequence 
of sin. Where this love is shed abroad in the 
heart, all the graces of the Holy Spirit grow : 
in that heart Christ resides : communion with 
God is enjoyed : conformity to God is experien- 
ced; and unfading joys of heaven are anticipated, 
and will shortly be obtained. 

2nd. This salvation is free for all. God the 
Holy Ghost calls to the world and says : And 
whosoever will, ^ him take the water of life free- 
ly* Rich and poor, young and old, bond and 
free, black and white, noble and ignoble, learned 
and illiterate may come and welcome, yea, and 
be heartily welcome to a free, full and present 
salvation. 

3rd. Salvation is free to all that believe. It is 
a free gift to poor God-condemned self-condemn- 
ed sinners, given as soon as they believe in Jesus. 
For by grace are ye saved through faith ; and 
that not of yourselves : it is the gift of God : not 
of works, lest any man should boast.\ Being 
justified freely by his grace through the redemp- 
tion that is in Christ Jesus. $ No one need stag- 
ger at this abundant kindness since God unsoli- 

* Rev. 22, 17. t Eph. 2, 8-9. * Rom. 3, 24. 



22 
citedly gave his .well-beloved Son. For : He 
that spared not his own Son, but delivered him 
up for us all, how shall he not with him also 
freely give us all things.* What a favor ! What 
a boon! Salvation is offered to the worthless! 
To the unworthy worthless ! But the great spell 
in the business is this, infinitely worthy is the 
Lamb that was slain, and he was slain for us. 

4th. Salvation is free in all that believe. Any 
believer however weak may stand if he keeps 
himself in the love of God ; and any believer 
however strong may fall, yea and will most cer- 
tainly fall unless he continues to believe and obey. 
But if we continue to believe : Neither death, nor 
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers^ 
nor things present, nor things to come, nor 
height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall 
be able to separate us from the love of God,which 
is in Christ Jesus our Lord A 

5th. This salvation when received in its ful 
ness delivers the soul from all inward and out- 
ward sin. From all sinful thoughts, tempers, 
and actions. Then will I sprinkle clean water 
upon you, and ye shall be clean : from all your 
filthincss, and from all your idols, will I cleanse 
you.% Now if God cleanses the soul from all fil- 



* Rom. 8, 32. t Rom. 8, 38-39. X Ezek, 36, 25. 



23 

thiness and idols, there is neither filth nor idol 
left. Some persons say that, sin must of neces- 
sity remain in 113 as long as we live. Now by 
saying this they politely insinuate, that Satan is 
stronger than Christ. This statement creeps on 
its belly, and venomously whispers, my friend 
Beelzebub has made a breach that your friend 
Jesus cannot repair. But O thank God, the 
crown is yet on the brow of our royal Master ; 
and his foes are under his feet. He knows how to 
destroy the works of the devil root and branch. 
And : If we confess our sins, lie is faithful and 
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us 
from all unrighteousness* 

5. This salvation when enjoyed in its fulness 
consecrates the whole soul and body to God and 
his service every moment. They who enjoy this 
state are fully devoted to God, and they experi- 
ence the answer to the following prayer: And 
the very God of peace sanctify you wholly ; and 
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body 
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. t They experience the truth 
of the following statement : Being then made 
free from sin, ye became the servants^of righ- 
teousness^ For as ye have yielded your members 

* 1 John 1,9. t 2 Thess. 5, 23. X Rom. 6, 18. 



24 

servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto ini- 
quity ; even so now yield your members servants 
to righteousness unto holiness.* They have 
complied with the following commandments : — 
For ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify 
God in your body, and in your spirit, which are 
God's.\ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or 
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.\ Oh 
the bliss of those that are constantly round about 
thee ! 

6. This salvation is every where present to 
the believing soul. Jesus Christ consecrated the 
whole world to soul-saving purposes when he 
said : Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
Gospel to every creature.^ Hear the tone of the 
gospel, Salvation is a must be, just here, just now. 
But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh 
on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall as- 
cend into heaven ? That is, to bring Christ down 
from above : or, who shall descend into the deep ? 
That is, to bring up Christ again from the dead. 
But what saith it ? The word is nigh thee, even 
in thy mouth, and in thy heart : that is, the word 
of faith, which we preach ; that if thou shalt con- 
fess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt be- 

* Rom. 6, 19. 1 1 Cor. 6, 20. % 1 Cor. 10, 31. 
$ Mar. 16, 15. 



25 

lieve in thine heart that God hath raised him from 
the dead, thou shalt be saved.* The clouds of 
salvation are bursting heavy just upon you : only 
pierce them by praying faith ; and you will find 
in this dispensation, floods of salvation — waters 
to swim in. Jesus is present here. Touch him 
by the finger of faith, and virtue will come out 
of him, and heal you all. Behold, now is the ac- 
cepted time ; behold, now is the day of salvation .f 
8. This salvation is eternal in its duration. 
It saves through life and all its toils : through 
death and all its dangers : through the state and. 
place of separate spirits, on the awful morning 
of the resurrection ; and then through the un- 
measured ages of blissful eternity. It is life, life 
eternal, life ! 



CHAP. III. 

HOW A SINNER MAY GET CONVERTED TO GOD. 

Conversion is a change of the heart and life, 
from sin to holiness. Very few people know 
how a sinner must act to experience this blessed 
change. It is true the bible reveals the way ; but 
most people err, either through temptation, or 
ignorance, or enmity, or pride. May the Lord 
grant that we may see the way ; and then walk 
* Rom. 10, 6-9. t 2 Cor. 6,2." 



26 

in it. To get converted to God, you must re- 
pent and believe the Gospel. Many wicked peo- 
ple know that they are doing wrong, and that if 
they die in their present state they will drop into 
hell : therefore they should this moment flee from 
the wrath to come, by attending to the three fol- 
lowing things. First, get the knowledge of your- 
selves : Secondly, repent : Thirdly, believe the 
Gospel. 

1. Get the knowledge of yourselves. Know 
your sinful state and condition, by nature and 
practice. Think on your ways. Read the bible. 
Discourse ingeniously with some religious per- 
son. Often pray to God Almighty that the Holy 
Spirit might enlighten you. And if there be a 
heart-searching preacher within twenty miles, 
go and hear him as soon as you can. If his 
prayers and sermon be all about you, do not be 
offended ; but bless God and take courage. At- 
tend to these things until you feel yourself to be 
a mad foolish sinner. Then you will be in what 
is called a state of conviction. 

2. Repent. Now repentance is a change of 
the mind ; and it generally produces sorrow for 
sin, hatred to sin, confession of sin, restitution 
for sin, forsaking o^ sin, and a desire for mercy. 
The tears, fears, burdens, and distress even of 



27 
fifty years are not repentance ; and they will not 
avail ; unless the mind js changed and sin for- 
saken. The moment you change your mind and 
forsake sin, and feel your lost condition, you are 
a mourner; and the character to whom the pro- 
mises are made ; and a proper person to believe 
on the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon. 

3. Believe the Gospel immediately. For, the 
moment you thirst God offers you drink : If any 
man thirst, let him come unto me and drink * — 
The moment you hunger God offers you bread ; 
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 
righteousness: for they shall be filled.] The 
moment you are weary God offers you ease : 
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest.% Now poor 
mourner, span your arm of belief round the four 
following articles of the Christian Faith, and 
God will pardon all your sins, while you cor- 
dially believe. 

1st. I believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of 
God. 

2nd. I believe he loved me and gave himself 
for me. 

3rd. I believe Jesus has paid all my debt, and 
it is my privilege and duty to trust to the payment. 

* John 7, 37. t Matt. 5, 6. t. Matt 11, 28. 



28 

Ath. I do just now trust to it, I consider myself 

clear, I believe I am clear. Glory be to God! 

Glory be to Jesus I He pardons my sins through 

believing that, jesus paid my debt ; and then 

that I AM CLEAR BECAUSE MY DEBT IS PAID. O if 

I had a thousand tongues they should all praise 
him. If every tongue could sound a thousand 
tones at once, they should all shout, Hallelujah 
to God and the Lamb. 1 believe thee my God 
— I believe thee my Saviour — I receive thy sal- 
vation just now. But as many as received him, 
to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, 
even to them that believe on his name* 

— ®0& — 

CHAP IV. 

DIRECTIONS TO YOUNG CONVERTS. 

Sometimes there are persons soundly converted 
to God, and made gloriously happy, who scarcely 
for one day retain the blessing : But it is hap- 
pened unto them according to the true proverb, 
the dog is turned to his own vomit again : and 
the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the 
mirc.\ Many of those who thus turn back to 
sin and folly, do so for want of instruction. They 
see the great work of a christian life before them ; 

* John 1,12. j 2 Peter 2, 22. 



29 

and yet they know not how to commence ; they 
therefore begin to reason with the tempter : give 
up their confidence; and fall into sin. They 
then bring an evil report on the good land. They 
dare not engage again themselves ; and they de- 
ter others, by telling them, it is no use striving 
to be religious, for they strove once — they once 
began to build, but were not able to finish. To 
keep young converts from this dreadful pit, and 
help them in a religious life, the following direc- 
tions are written. May God, for Christ's sake, 
make them a blessing. 

1. From the moment you are converted, for- 
sake all your wicked companions and practices. 
Break them off at once. If you parley you will 
be in danger. Fly from them immediately, and 
for ever. Escape for thy life ; and look not he- 
hind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain ; es- 
cape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed* — 
Flee from the wrath to come.* Tell your com- 
panions if they will not go with you to heaven* 
you will not go with them to hell. If they per- 
secute you, and persuade you not to become a me- 
lancholy Methodist, as they call it ; fly to prayer 
immediately. Do not hold to arguments with 
them for if you do, perhaps you may find, that an 

* Gen. 19, 17. t Matt. 3, 7. 



30 

old sinner is too much for a young saint. Think 
not of gaining them by complying with them and 
accompanying them, for if you do, ten thousand 
to one but your bosom gets burnt. Be firm, and 
then perhaps they will think they have a soul to 
save, a heaven to gain, and a hell to shun. If 
they become converted, be not too familiar with 
them, for too much familiarity breeds contempt. 
Only know them as christians. Pray much and 
you will soon conquer all. Keep the following 
passage of scripture always in mind : And a 
marts foes shall be they of his own household.* 

2. On the day that you are converted, offer 
yourself to meet in some religious society. Per- 
sons mostly do best when they join those people 
where they received their good. If it is not pos- 
sible for you to unite with them, you must be 
very careful how you choose. If you know any 
society, that is pious, poor, persecuted, and use- 
ful : they are the people of God. Join them. By 
no means choose a rich, dead, useless society, for 
you know worldly respectability is not religion. 
I warn you most earnestly, do not think you can 
keep your religion without uniting with some re- 
ligious society. For : Two are better far than 
one : because they have a good reward for their 

* Matt. 10,36. 



31 

labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his 
fellow : but woe to him that is alone when he fall- 
eth ; for he hath none to help him up. Again, if 
two lie together, then they have heat : but how can 
one be warm alone ?* You cannot be a christain 
and be solitary. It is generally pride that keeps 
people from uniting. Conquer it. When you 
are united, ask the minister, or leader, for the 
rules of the society. And be determined to live 
by them. If you have experience, or class-meet- 
ings, take care and never be absent. Do not 
give the leader trouble week after week to seek 
you; but rather help him by your prayers and 
punctuality. If in the course of life you remove 
to any other place to reside, begin to meet with 
your own people again as soon as possible. Be- 
fore you sleep in that place, go to see your 
minister, and offer yourself to society. Do not 
wait for an invitation ; or you may lose your 
soul : But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and 
his righteousness.^ 

3. On the day you are converted, begin family 
prayer. This may seem a cross : but be deter- 
mined to take it up ; for there is a blessing un- 
der it. You may feel your inability for the 
work ; but never mind, try, and God will help 

* Eccles. 4, 9-11. t Matt. 6, 33. 



32 

you ; and you will be a wonder to yourself, and 
to all that are around you. If you do well at 
family prayer, do not be proud of it ; or Satan 
may work your downfall. Always read a por- 
tion of scripture before prayer : requiring every 
person in your house to be present. What a 
blessed sight, for the Lord to look down out of 
heaven ; and see a whole family bowed down at 
his feet. This has often been the means of whole 
families, and even of whole neighborhoods turn- 
ing to God. It always stills unpleasantness in a 
family ; and often is the means of delivering 
them out of worldly difficulties. While on the 
other hand an inspired writer prays for a curse 
on prayerless families : Pour out thy fury upon 
the heathen that know thee not, and upon the fa- 
milies that call not on thy name* 

4. As soon as possible commence praying" in 
private. Private devotion is the sinews of a 
man's religion. One reason why so few people 
make any thing out in religion, is because there 
is so little private prayer. If possible, you 
should have regular time and place for this im- 
portant duty. At the least you should pray pri- 
vately in the morning, and in the middle of the 
day, and in the evening ; but if your opportuni- 

* Jer. 10, 25. 



33 

ties will allow, retire oftener ; and as far as pos- 
sible be regular. Disorder in this leads to de- 
struction. If young professors were in their clo- 
sets, instead of being so much in each others 
company, to talk and jest, it would be better with 
their souls. Satan tempts young converts to run 
about from place to place, that he may run their 
religion out of them. The old path of private 
prayer is a good one. It stills the din of the 
\vorld and self. A hypocrite seldom stays long 
in private ; but all true christians love it. How 
delightful it is for God and man to commune ; 
sometimes the power of God is so amazingly 
great, that the mortal kneels silent, and dares 
not to utter a word. Oh the bliss ! Many a man 
when in his closet has shaken the world in an- 
swer to prayer. Pity the man that has not a 
heart to it ; and be punctual in the duty yourself: 
When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and 
when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father 
which is in secret ; and thy Father which seeth in 
secret shall reward thee openly* 

5. After you are converted, read the whole of 
the scriptures as soon as possible. Many per- 
sons have never read them through, since they 
left the school where they were educated. — 

* Matt. 6, 6, 
2* 



34 

You will now see the scriptures in a new light. 
You will wonder that you never saw the beauty 
of them before. The holy scriptures are the 
lamp whereby the pilgrims find their way home. 
They are the map whereby the christians avoid 
all the high-ways and by-ways that lead down to 
hell. They are the sea map whereby the spiritual 
mariner steers clear of all the shoals and quick- 
sands in the ocean of life. Read them. They 
are life. Ye do err, not knowing- the Scriptures, 
nor the power of God* Some professors who 
have not grown a yard in height, would have 
been tall cedars now, if they had diligently read 
the scriptures. It is a sin not to read them, be- 
cause the Lord has commanded us to search 
them. Read them, again and again, and bind 
them on the tablet of thine art. This book of the 
law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou 
shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou, 
may est observe to do according to all that is writ- 
ten therein: for then thou shalt make thy way 
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.] 
6. Be very punctual in attending all the means 
of grace in the society with which you unite. Be 
determined to be a real christian. Always attend 
the preaching of God's word : and then you will 

* Matt. 22, 29, f Josh. 1, 8. 



35 

gain knowledge. Be at all public meetings for 
prayer ; and your soul will get strengthened. — 
Attend all experience meetings ; and then you 
will grow in grace. Receive the sacrament of 
the Lord's supper whenever you have an oppor- 
tunity : by this you will be blessed and confirmed. 
When going to the house of God, if possible, al- 
ways go from your knees. Do not talk when on 
the way. Do not stand about the chapel doors 
before you go in. Be in time. When I see a 
person coming late to the house of God, I often 
think and am afraid that, that person will be too 
late at last. Be there before the service begins, 
and devoutly get your mind into a worshipping 
frame. Some persons cannot get any good, if 
they are not present during the singing of the 
first hymn. When in the house of God, worship 
in the best way you can. Do not look about you 
during service. Do not look who is coming in. 
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of 
God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the 
sacrifice of fools : for they consider not that they 
do evil* As soon as service is over retire home 
to your closet. Do not stop to talk on the way, 
or the fowls of the air may devour the good seed. 
Determine never to speak evil of preachers ; but 

* Eccles. 5, 1. 



36 

pray much for them : and they will be a greater 
blessing to you. By the grace of God never be 
absent from the means of grace. Not forsaking 
the assembling' of ourselves together, as the man- 
ner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and 
so much the more, as ye see the day approaching* 
7. Be resolved from the first to redeem your 
time. Time is a valuable talent, and very swift 
in its flight ; and we are accountable for it to 
God. Never while away your time ; always be 
doing something. Do not employ yourself with 
needless trifles and toy-like things ; for they 
squander time away, and beneath, degrade, and 
prostrate the noblest faculties of the human soul. 
Religious chit-chat, gossiping, tea-parties,and sup- 
per-parties, which spring from a sort of religious 
longing for the leeks and garlick of Egypt, again 
have wasted more time and talent than would have 
half converted this world, if that time and talent 
had been devoted according to the primitive 
christian's principle. To redeem your time live 
by method. Make out a plan of living, and keep 
it as near as you can. Sleep, work, eat, pray, 
and read by rule. The reason why John Wes- 
ley and his friends at Oxford were called Metho- 
dists, was because they lived methodically. They 

* Heb. 10, 25. 



37 

did every thing by rule ; and O what a blessed, 
and useful people they were ! Would to God 
we all lived like them. All persons who are de- 
nominated Methodists, ought to live by method, 
or else they disgrace their name. Do one thing 
at a time ; and do every thing in the best way 
you can. Live by rule, to redeem your time ; 
and your life, and your end will be peace. See 
then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but 
as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are 
evil.* 

8. Reprove sin wherever you see it. Sin in- 
sults God, pollutes men, and destroys the soul : 
therefore reprove it. You must be careful to re- 
prove with meekness; always remembering that: 
A soft answer turneth away wrath : but grievous 
words stir up anger. \ Meekness hid in reproof, 
is like a lancet hid in a sponge ; it pierces to the 
very quick of the soul, sometimes before the sin- 
ner is aware. Many a man has been converted 
to God, by means of a timely judicious reproof. 
Besides you cannot keep the life of G-od in your 
own soul, if you suffer sin in your neighbour. — 
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: 
thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and 
not suffer sin upon him.\ And have no fellow- 

* Eph. 5, 15-16. t Prov. 15, 1. X Lev. 19, 17. 



38 

ship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but 
rather reprove them* For it is a shame even to 
speak of those things which are done in secret* 
Hate sin with perfect hatred, and reprove it with 
christian sympathy and fortitude. 

9. Jf you be engaged in worldly business, be 
careful to do your duty. Let the world see that 
religion does not make you worse masters, or 
servants, or husbands, or wives, or children, or 
tradesmen ; but show yourselves to be better for 
religion. The world says religious people are 
idle ; this is not true of all professors ; but it is 
most awfully true of some. Some persons run 
to hear great preachers, and attend public meet- 
ings, when their business and creditors require 
them at home. Such persons do religion more 
harm, than they can do good as long as they live. 
Tradesmen will often trust the world rather than 
professors of religion : there is a cause for this ; 
and the cause is, that many professors of religion 
try to get into debt, but never try to get out again 
by paying their debts. Be on your guard against 
these things. Not slothful in business ; fervent 
in spirit ; serving the Lord.f Owe no man any 
thing, but to love one another.^ 

10. Let your whole life for the future be a life 

* Eph. 5, 11-12. t Rom. 12, 11. t Rom. 13, 8. 



39 

of faith. Now the just shall live ly faith * Hear 
the creed and experience of St. Paul ; and be de- 
termined by the grace of God to imitate him : J 
am crucified with Christ : nevertheless I live ; 
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me : and the life 
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of 
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself 
for me.\ See what wonders the ancient worthies 
have wrought by faith ; and strive to follow them 
as far as they followed Christ. By faith Abel offer- 
ed unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. 
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not 
see death. — By faith Noah, being warned of God 
of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, pre- 
pared an ark to the saving of his house. — 
Through faith also, Sarah herself received 
strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a 
child when she was past age, because she judged 
him faithful who had promised. — By faith Abra- 
ham,, when he was tried } offered up Isaac. — By 
faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused 
to be called the son of PharoaWs daughter. — By 
faith the Israelites passed through the red sea as 
by dry land. — By faith the walls of Jericho fell 
down. — By faith the harlot Rahab perished not 
with them 'that believed not. — And what shall I 

* Heb. 10, 38. t Gal. 2, 20. 



40 
more say ? for the time would fail me to tell of 
Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of 
Jephthae, of David also, and Samuel, and of the 
prophets : who through faith subdued kingdoms, 
wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stop- 
ped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of 
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weak- 
ness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, 
turned to flight the armies of the aliens,* This 
God, who performed these wonders for his peo- 
ple through their faith, is our God ; and he is still 
faithful to his promises, and also will do it. — 
Wherefore, as we have so many examples of be- 
lievers, who finished the course and kept the 
faith, let us also run the faith-race : Looking un- 
to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.f — 
We may, we can, we will believe in God, for : 
Without faith it is impossible to please him; for 
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and 
that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek 
him.% 

11. Daily make some improvement in know- 
ledge and grace. By regular attention to read- 
ing and meditation, you may make surprising ad- 
vancement in christian knowledge. If possible, 
get the advice of some judicious friend respecting 

* Heb 11, 4-34. t Heb. 12, 2. % Heb. 11, 6. 



41 

the books you shall read ; and never purchase 
any book whatever except he approves of it. — 
Always remember that you should get knowledge 
in order to grow in grace: therefore let it be 
your constant aim to get more of God about you, 
and then to diffuse the influence amongst others. 
Though justification is received instantaneously, 
yet there must be a constant growing in grace 
afterward. For : the path of the just is as the 
shining lights that shineth more and more unto 
the perfect day* The righteous also shall hold 
on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be 
stronger and stronger, f But grovj in grace, 
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ. f 

12. Live daily in the practice of self examina- 
tion. It is a shame when a christian knows every 
thing about other men and things, and remains a 
stranger to his own heart. Examine yourselves, 
whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.^ 
Examine yourself every evening, by the follow- 
ing questions, taken from the writings of Mr. 
Fletcher. 

1st. Do I feel any pride ; or am I partaker of 
the meek and lowly mind, that was in Jesus ? 

* Prov. 4, 18. t Job 17, 9. % 1 Pet. 3, 18, 

§ 2 Cor. 13, 5. 



42 

2nd. Does God bear witness in my heart that 
it is purified. 

3rd. Is the life I live by the faith of the Son of 
God ; so that Christ dwelleth in me ? 

4th. Have I always the presence of God? 

5th. Am I saved from the fear of man ? 

6th. Do I deny myself at all times, and take 
up my cross as the Spirit of God leads me ? 

7th. Are my bodily senses and outward things 
all sanctified to me ? 

8th. Am I poor in Spirit ? 

9th. Do I lean to my own understanding? 

10th. Have I no false wisdom, goodness, 
strength ; as if the grace I feel were my own ? 

11th. Have I meekness ? 

12th. Do I possess resignation ; am I content 
with whatever is, or maybe; seeing that God, 
the Author of all events, does, and will do, all for 
my good? 

13th. Am I just ; doing in all things as I would 
others should do unto me ? 

14th. Am I temperate, using the world, and 
not abusing it? 

15th. Am I courteous, not severe ? 

16th. Am I vigilant ; redeeming the time, ta- 
king every opportunity of doing good ; or do I 



43 

spare myself, being careless about the souls and 
bodies to which I might do good? 

17th. Do I love God with all my heart ? 

18th. Do I love God with all my strength, and 
are my spiritual faculties always vigorous ? 

19th. Do I love my neighbor as myself; every 
man for Christ's sake, and honor all men, as the 
image of God? 

20th. How am I in my sleep ? If Satan pre- 
sents an evil imagination, does my will immedi- 
ately resist, or give way to it ? 

21st, Do I bear the infirmities of age or sick- 
ness ; without seeking to repair the decays of na- 
ture by strong liquors ; or do I make Christ my 
whole support, casting the burden off a feeble 
body into the arms of his mercy? 

These questions of self-examination, if regu- 
larly and sincerely attended to, will be a great 
means of keeping your soul in the love of God% 



# 
4 



CHAP. V. 

PROOFS, THAT JUSTIFIED BELIEVERS ARE NOT 

DELIVERED FROM THE REMAINS OF THE 

CARNAL MIND. 

1. From experience. The joys of some newly 
converted persons are very great. They love 
what they once hated ; and they hate what they 
once loved. They rejoice in the light of God's 
countenance all the day long. In this virgin 
state of salvation, their ways are ways of plea- 
santness, and all their paths are peace. They 
feel the love of God shed abroad in their hearts, 
— they weep tears of delight, — they breathe sighs 
that waft to heaven. They feel the sting of death 
is drawn, and are glad. Wonder not at this, for : 
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, 
whose sin is covered* Blessed are the poor in 
spirit ; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.] In 
this state they sometimes fondly hope, that all 
sin is gone, all trouble is over, and they shall 
never see war any more. They think they can 
convert every body ; but they soon find their 
mistake, by learning that nothing less than the 
power of the Lord God Almighty can convert a 
soul. Shortly, the floods of persecution and 
temptation begin to rise ; and thfy find, that in- 
* Psalm 32, 1. t Matt. 5, 3. 



45 

stead of having put off the harness, they have on- 
ly just put it on. Then they enter the gloomy 
valley of mourning and tears, to combat the 
world, the flesh, and the devil. Did they once 
think sin was all gone ? Alas ! they now find it 
was only dormant ; but not dead. Inbred sin 

I springs up and rages in their thoughts, inclina- 
tions, dispositions and tempers; and they feel 
the rising of peevishness, anger and pride ; so 

; that they have to betake to themselves the wea- 
pons of all prayer and watchfulness, even to stand 
their ground. Then the tempter comes in like a 
flood, and insinuates, why you are not a child of 

1 God — you have deceived yourself — it is all a de- 

f lusion — if you were a child of God you would 
never be in this way. But you must never be- 
lieve him, for he is a devil : He was a murderer 
from, the beginning, and abode not in the truth, 
because there is no truth in (him. When he 
speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own : for he is 
a liar, and the father of it* Cast not away your 
confidence, even if you be not delivered from in- 
bred sin ; for you are a child of God, though you 
are not cleansed from the last remains of the car- 
nal mind. But go by simple faith to Jesus, and 
you shall be : For this purpose the Son of God 

* John 8, 44. 



46 

was manifested that he might destroy the works 
of the devil* And while you keep believing : 

'* Not a cloud shall arise, to darken the skies : 

" Or hide for one moment the Lord from your eyes." 

Now all this, which has been the experience of 
some hundreds of persons, who are ready at any 
time to declare it, goes to prove, that, the remains 
of the carnal mind are not destroyed by the work 
of justification. But all this would not satisfy 
my mind, if it could not in the next place be 
proved, 

2. From Scripture. There are many passages 
that prove this ; but I shall only refer to two of 
them : at the same time I wish to observe, that 
one scripture proof is valid authority; and a 
thousand can be no more. 

1st. The Apostle Paul, in his first Epistle to 
the Corinthians, in the third chapter, and from 
the first to the fourth verse, has written the fol- 
lowing plain passage : And I, brethren, could not 
speak unto you as to spiritual, but as unto carnal, 
even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you 
with milk, and not with meat : for hitherto you 
were not able to bear it, neither yet now arc ye 
able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there 
is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, 

M John 3, 8. 



47 

are ye not carnal, and walk as men 1 For while 
one saith, I am of Paul ; and another, I am of 
Apollos, are ye not carnal ? Now from this it is 
clear: 1. That the Corinthians were born again, 
or justified, or babes in Christ: 2. That the re- 
mains of the carnal mind were still in them : for 
ye are yet carnal* From this it is evident, that 
ihe remains of the carnal mind are not de- 
stroyed by the work of justification. 

2nd. In the Epistle to the Galatians he states ; 
Tor the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the 
Spirit against the flesh : and these are contrary 
ihe one to the other: so that ye cannot do the 
things that ye would* By this it appears : — - 

1. That the Spirit is in justified believers: — 

2. That the flesh is also in them at the same 
time : And these are contrary the one to the other : 
so that ye cannot do the things that ye would* Is 
not this another proof, that the remains of 
the carnal mind are not destroyed by the 
work of justification ? But though this is not 
done by justification, the ever-blessed God has 
engaged to do it by entire sanctiflcation, even to 
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This great 
blessing of perfect love, or entire sanctiflcation, 
is the subject of the next chapter. 

* Gal, 5, 17. 



CHAP. VI. 

ON PERFECT LOVE, WHICH IS GENERALLY CALLED 

ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION, OR CHRISTIAN 

PERFECTION. 

When a soul receives the forgiveness of all 
past sin, the love of God is shed abroad in the 
heart; which is perfect in its nature, though not 
in degree ; for, as was showed in the last chap- 
ter, there are two principles in the hearts of the 
justified, which are grace and inbred sin. Grace 
reigns, though inbred sin remains. Bui perfect 
love, or entire sanctification cleanses the soul 
from the last remains of the carnal mind : so that 
he who is perfected, loves the Lord his God, 
with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his 
mind, and with all his strength ; and his neigh- 
bor as himself. This is what we mean by per- 
fect love, which we call entire sanctification, or 
christian perfection. 

1. Perfect love is attainable in this life. Some 
persons say, we cannot be made perfect in love 
until the hour and article of death. But praise 
the Lord, there is a rest of perfect love, even in 
this life, remaining for the people of God : and 
some now enjoy it, who can say : And we have 
known and believed the love that God hath to us* 
God is love ; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth 



49 

in God and God in him. Herein is our love 
made perfect, that we may have boldness in the 
day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in 
this world. There is no fear in love ; but per- 
fect love casteth out fear ; because fear hath tor- 
ment. He that feareth is not made perfect in 
love. We love him, because he first loved us.* 

2. Perfect love does not make us absolutely 
perfect. For there is none absolutely perfect 
but one, that is God. 

3. Perfect love does not make us perfect like 
angels, As Mr. Wesley observes: "Angels 
are not liable to mistake ; their knowledge is 
perfect in its kind." But man is liable to mis- 
take : therefore he cannot in this life be per- 
fect as angels. 

4. Perfect love does not exclude the constant 
need of the atonement. The atonement is the 
soul of perfection ; for without it perfection would 
die. The perfect cry out from a feeling sense : 

" Every moment, Lord I need 
" The merit of thy death." 

5. Perfect love does not exclude the possibility 
of growing in grace. But on the contrary, the 
perfect grow faster than others ; for as well as 

* ] John 4, 16-19. 
3 



50 

being nearer the fountain, they are in a better 
soil and atmosphere. 

6. Perfect love docs not exclude the possibility 
of falling away. While we remain in this life 
we are probationers ; and even perfect Paul must 
take care, and keep under his body, lest by any 
means he should become a cast away.* 

7. Perfect love does not make us complete in 
knowledge. There are ten thousand things, 
which we shall never know in this life ; for now 
we see through a glass darkly— now we are chil- 
dren— now we know in part. When in heaven we 
shall know even as we are known. But until 
then we can see only one side of the curtain- 

8. Perfect love does not deliver us from the in- 
firmities of human nature. From a liability to 
mistake in our judgment, and act accordingly,we 
shall never be delivered, until this mortal puts on 
immortality. 

9. Perfect love does not deliver us from the 
possibility of being tempted. If Jesus, the mas- 
ter, was tempted to kneel down and worship the 
devil, what may the servant expect but tempta- 
tion, from the same un-God-like foe. 

10. The perfect in love are saved from all out- 
ward sin. Nay, this is the privilege even of 

* 1 Cor. 9.27. 



51 

babes in Christ. Whosoever commiteth sin trans- 
gresseth also the law; fot sin is the transgres- 
sion of the law. And ye know that he was mani- 
fested to take away our sins ; and in him is no 
sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: 
whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither 
know him. Little children, let no man deceive 
you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, 
even as he is righteous. He that commiteth sin 
is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from, the be- 
ginning. For this purpose the Son of God zcas 
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the 
devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit 
sin; for his seed remaineth in him : and he can- 
not sin, because he is born of God. In this the 
children of God are manifest, and the children of 
the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is 
not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother* 
We cannot say we never have sinned; for: If 
we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 
and the truth is not in us. But, if we confess 
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our 
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.^ 
1 1 . The perfect in love are saved from all sinful 
tempers and dispositions. Our Lord has said in his 
blessed word: The disciple is not above his master: 

* I John 3, 4=10. t 1 John, 1, B-& 



52 

but every one that is perfect shall be as his mas- 
ter* Now, the master never was proud ; there- 
fore if he that is perfect is as his master, he that 
is perfect will never be proud. The master never 
was peevish : therefore if he that is perfect is as 
his master, he that is perfect will never be peevish. 
The master never was vicious : therefore if he 
that is perfect is as his master, he that is perfect 
will never be vicious. The friends of sin and 
Satan tell us very gravely, that they never ex- 
pect being delivered from inbred sin in this world; 
but that the old serpent must remain in his lurk- 
ing place until neighbour death puts a stop to his 
banquet. Poor souls, their's is but very low water 

enjoyment. 

" Let others hug their chains, 

" For sin and Satan plead, 
" And say, from sin's remains 

" We never can be freed : 
" Rejoice in hope, rejoice with me, 
" We shall from all our sins be free. 
" The word of God is sure, 

" And never can remove ; 
" We shall in heart be pure, 

" And perfected in love ; 
" Rejoice in hope, rejoice with me, 
*' We shall from all our sins be free." 
If any one be startled with these ve rses of M 

* Luke 6, 40. 



53 

Wesley's, let him read the following words of 
the Holy Ghost, and then perhaps he may startle 
in another sense : But if we walk in the light, as 
he is in the light, we have fellowship one with 
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, 
cleanseth us from all sin.* And if it cleanseth 
from all sin, most assuredly there is no sin left. 
Then says one, I am below my privilege, for I 
enjoy no such thing; but bless God you may en- 
joy it, for the fountain is still open for sin and 
uncleanness. 

12. The perfect in love are saved from all sin- 
ful thoughts. All thoughts are sinful which leave 
God no room in our minds : or those which spring 
from sinful tempers : or those which cherish and 
feed sinful tempers. We cannot avoid having 
sinful thoughts suggested by Satan ; but the per- 
fect resist them in a moment, and by the grace 
of God they overcome them : For the weapons of 
our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through 
God to the pulling down of the strong holds ; cast- 
ing down imaginations, and ever?/ high thing 
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, 
and bringing into captivity every thought to the 
obedience of Christy 

13. The perfect in love have all the fruits of 

* 1 John 1, 7. t 2 Cor. 10, 4-5. 



54 

the Holy Spirit. And they that are Christ's have 
erucified the flesh with the affections and lusts * 
They never commit adultery, or fornication, or 
uncleanness, or Jasciviousness, or idolatry, or 
witchcraft, or hatred, or variance, or emulations, 
or wrath, or strife, or seditions, or heresies, or 
envyings, or murders, or drunkenness, or such 
like. They are dead unto sin, and alive unto 
God. They live in the Spirit and bring forth the 
fruit of the Spirit : which, as Dr. Macknight ob- 
serves, in his commentary on the fifth chapter of 
Oalatians, " is love to God and man; joy occa- 
sioned by that excellent affection ; peace, with 
all men ; the patient bearing of injuries ; a soft 
and sweet manner of speaking ; a beneficent dis- 
position ; fidelity to engagements, promises, 
and trusts; calmness under provocations: tem- 
perance, in the use of meats and drinks." This 
fruit is in the sanctified soul, without any oppo- 
site. And as the Spirit is not a transient guest 
in that heart, the fruit of the Spirit does not 
cease; but it abides, and increases. In the en- 
tirely sanctified soul, there are constantly perfect 
love, perfect joy, perfect peace, perfect long-suf- 
fering, perfect gentleness, perfect goodness, per- 
fect fidelity, perfect meekness, and perfect tem- 

* Gal. 5, 24. 



55 

perance. This undivided fruit of the Spirit re- 
mains in those who are faithful from day to day, 
from week to week, from month to month, from 
year to year, nay, even from the time they re- 
ceive it, until they die. 

14. The perfect in love have no condemnation. 
God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost approve of 
them ; and manifest themselves unto them. Good 
angels and saints in glory doubtless rejoice over 
them, and as far as permitted commune with 
them, and minister to them ; for they rejoice, even 
over one sinner that repenteth. And even the 
devil of hell, the accuser of the brethren, cannot 
justly lay any thing to the charge of the select of 
God. Good men approve of them, and even the 
wicked know they are of God, although they perse- 
cute them, and say all manner of evil of them, they 
say it falsely and for righteousness sake. Their 
own hearts condemn them not. Their conscien- 
ces are void of offence towards God and towards 
man; For: There is therefore now no condemna- 
tion to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk 
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the 
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made 
me free from the law of sin avd death* 

15. The perfect in love walk in the light, as 

* Rom. 8, 1-2. 



56 

God is in the light. Because the darkness is 
past, and the true light now shineth.* They are 
pure in heart : and therefore they see God. They 
know the meaning of the holy scriptures much 
more clearly, than either the ancient Jews, or 
present justified believers. But ye have an unc- 
tion from, the Holy One, and ye know all things^ 
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have 
entered into the heart of man, the things which 
God hath prepared for them that love him. But 
God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit : for 
the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep 
things of God.\ Many people tell us, that they 
never understood the meaning of some passages 
of scripture, until they obtained the blessing of 
entire sanctification. While the man who walketh 
in darkness knoweth not where he may stumble 
or fall ; the perfect in love know whither they 
are going, they are for heaven and no where else ! 
Thank God! Heaven and nowhere else! What 
would the devil be doing, think you, if he were 
to allow us to publish this doctrine without oppo- 
sition ? Don't you think he would be losing his 
kingdom ? 

16. The perfect in love conform to the will of 
God in all things. They have not lost their 

* 1 John 2, 8. t 1 John 2, 20. 1 1 Cor. 2, 9-16. 



57 
wills ; but they concur with the will of God ; so 
that one will serves both parties. They say, 
not my will, but thine be done. If God appoints 
them affliction, they cry amen, so be it. If God 
appoints them poverty, they still say amen. If 
he appoints bereavement, they bow their heads, 
and say amen. Or if he appoints them the mar- 
tyr's stake, they are ready to go through fire to 
their Jesus. They are God's true men. They 
are not merely sunshine christians ; but they can 
bear a storm. They have found out that God 
longs to save sinners, hence they would face a 
flame to save a soul. They have read the bible, 
and found that millions are posting to hell against 
God's will ; and this has made them bid to ease 
farewell. They are aware that hell is awful : 
souls are precious : the work is great : the time 
is short, and the wages are most glorious : there- 
fore they labor hard ; and make haste home, to 
God, whom they love. 

17. The perfect in love are most gloriously 
happy. It is true they are sorrowful for sinners ; 
but still they are always rejoicing in God. They : 
Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing. In every 
thing give thanks.* And whenever God may 
see fit to call them they are ready to lay down 



* 1 Thess. 5, 16-18. 

3* 



58 
the armour and pu£ on the crown, Happy art 
thou, O Israel : who is like unto thee, O people, 
saved by the Lord ?* 



CHAP VII. 

PROOFS, THAT IT IS THE PRIVILEGE OF ALL THE 

PEOPLE OF GOD, TO BE PERFECTED IN LOVE, 

OR ENTIRELY SANCTIFIED TO GOD. 

1. Scripture precepts prove, that you may be 
perfected in love. Sanctify yourselves therefore, 
and be ye holy : for I am the Lord your God.\ — 
Hear, O Israel ; the Lord our God is one Lord ; 
and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy 
hearty and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, 
and with all thy strength : this is the first com- 
mandment. And the second is like, namely, this, 
thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself There is 
none other commandment greater than thcse.% — 
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father 
which is in heaven is perfect.^ From these com- 
mandments it is clear that God claims the hearts 
of his creatures. He has a right to make this 
demand, and we ought not to resist ; for he made 
us, preserved us, redeemed us, and then forgave 
us our sins, so that it is but reasonable, that 

* Deut. 33,29. t Lev. 20, 7, \ Mark 12, 29-31- 
§ Matt. 5, 48. 



59 

those whom he has loved, should love him in re- 
turn. And if he loved us with perfect love, the 
love returned ought to be perfect also. It must 
be possible for us to Jove God with all our hearts, 
or else he would never demand them. Oh how 
amazing it is, that worms should be allowed to 
love their maker — that dust and ashes should be 
allowed to love their Lord: and yet so it is, for 
the ever-blessed God says to his creature man, 
My Son, give me thine heart* 

2. Scripture promises prove, that you may be 
perfected in love. And the Lord thy God will 
circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed, 
to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and 
with all thy soul, that thou may est live.\ Then 
will 1 sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall 
be clean : from all your filthiness, and from all 
your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also 
will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within 
you : and I will take away the stony heart out of 
your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. % 
Most undoubtedly perfect love, or entire sancti- 
fication is offered in these promises. And it is 
equally certain, that the promise maker is able 
to perform his promises, for he fills heaven with 
love — the flame of every seraph was kindled by 

* Prov. 23, 26. t Deut. 30, 6. t Ezek. 36, 25-26. 



60 
him, so that surely, he can set a human heart on 
fire. And his faithfulness is as great as his power, 
his promise never fails : crowns, kingdoms, 
worlds, systems, suns, moons, and stars may fail; 
but the promise of God will stand when the hea- 
vens turn red, and the earth takes fire : For verily 
I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, 
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from 
the law, till all be fulfilled.* God is not a man, 
that he should lie ; neither the son of man, that 
he should repent : hath he said, and shall he not 
do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make 
it good ?\ 

3. Scripture prayers prove, that you may be 
perfected in love. For this cause I bow my knees 
unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of 
whom the whole family in heaven and earth is 
named, that he would grant you, according to 
the riches of his glory 1 to be strengthened with 
might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ 
may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being 
rooted and grounded in love, may be able to com- 
prehend with all saints what is the breadth, and 
length, and depth, and height ; and to knoio the 
love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye 
might be filled with all the f vines s of God.\ And 

* Matt. 5, 18. t Num. 23, 19. t Eph. 3, 14, 19. 



61 

the very God of peace sanctify you wholly ; and 
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be 
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord 
Jesus Christ.* Now, the Apostle was inspired 
by the Spirit of God ; and as such, can any one 
suppose, that he would pray prayers which could 
not be answered, or that might not be answered? 
No, by no means. It seems as though the blessed 
God was infinitely desirous to perfect the souls 
of his people, and that he saw his people resting 
short of their privilege ; and therefore the Holy 
Ghost speaks out of the heart of the Apostle, for 
this most desirable end. The Lord does not 
spring these prayers to torment his people, but 
that they may be answered ; and their souls may 
be filled with love. 

4. Scripture prophecies prove, that you may be 
perfected in love. When the Lord shall have 
washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, 
and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem 
from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, 
and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will 
create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, 
and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by 
day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: 
for upon all the glory shall be a defence.] And 

* 1 Thess. 5, 23. t Isa. 4, 4-5. 



62 

an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall 
be called the way of holiness ; the unclean shall 
not pass over it ; but it shall be for those the 
wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err there" 
in.* In that day there shall be a fountain opened 
to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of 
Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness .f These 
prophecies are always understood to refer to gos- 
pel times — to the present time ; and undoubtedly 
it is perfect holiness, or entire sanctification, of 
which they speak. They intimate, that God will 
cleanse his people from all sin, and fill their 
hearts with perfect love. None of the scripture 
prophecies have ever failed, and they never will ; 
for God is watching in the heavens ; and he takes 
care that every prophecy is fulfilled at the time, 
and in the place before appointed. These pre- 
dictions concerning perfect love were first fulfil- 
led on the day of Pentecost : they have been ful- 
filled in thousands of instances since that time : 
they are now fulfilling ; and will continue to be 
fulfilled, as long as Messiah keeps his throne. — 
Hallelujah. 

5. Scripture precedents prove, that you may be 
perfected in love. The opposers of entire sanc- 
tification, frequently challenge us, in their pigmy 

*Isa. 35,8. tZach. 13,1. 



63 

way, to find them some entirely sanctified peo- 
ple. Now this is no task, for those were entirely 
sanctified, of whom St. John said, As he is, so 
are we in this world:* and also those to whom 
St. Paul wrote, when he said, Let us therefore, 
as many as be perfect, be thus minded ;f and 
doubtless those who were in the upper room at 
Jerusalem, when the mighty rushing wind blew, 
got filled with perfect love ; and there are thou- 
sands of living witnesses at the present day, who 
can testify it, when they are not before swine ; 
but they do not see it needful to cast their pearls 
before them. Now as God is no respecter of 
persons, and his salvation is free for all, you 
may love him with all your heart. You may be 
as holy as Bramwell, or Wesley, or Fletcher, or 
Peter, or Paul, or John ; because you have the 
same God, the same promises, the same throne 
of grat;e, and the same glorious dispensation of 
the spirit: for, Behold, now is the accepted time ; 
behold, now is the day of salvation. \ 

6. Scripture invitations prove, that you may 
be perfected in love. Jesus stood and cried, say- 
ing, if any man thirst let him come unto me, and 
drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture 
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of liv- 

*1 John 4, 17. t Phil. 3, 15. t 2 Cor. 6,-2. 



64 

ing water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which 
they that believe on him should receive ; for the 
Holy Ghost icas not yet given ; because that Je- 
sus was not yet glorified* Hear this thou poor 
thirsty soul, thy Saviour makes thy way, " let 
" him come : fly back corruption : let him come : 
11 fly back false sentiment, and let him come : 
" fly back old lucifer, and let him come. He 
** may come, he shall come, I made his way, I 
** clear his way, he has a right, he has a God 
" given right, I bought his right with blood, he 
" shall come and welcome." Go, poor thirsty 
half-believer, go. Go to thy God and drink. 

7. Scripture exhortations prove, that you may 
be perfected in love. God has promised those 
who are perfect in love, that he will dwell in 
them ; and walk in them; and be their God ; and 
that they shall be his people ; that he will be a 
Father unto them ; and that they shall be his 
sons and daughters. St. Paul saw that these 
were great privileges ; and therefore he exhorts 
us in the following nervous language : Having 
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us 
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh 
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of 
God.* His temple ought to be clean, his chil- 



* John 7, 37-39. t 2 Cor. 7, 1. 



65 

dren ought to be clean ; for filth in the flesh or 
spirit is an abomination to the Lord — it is an 
abominable thing which God's soul hateth ; there- 
fore, let us cleanse ourselves. The children of 
a king ought not to be filthy or dirty ; therefore, 
let us clean ourselves, that we may be fit to be in 
his presence. It is easy to be seen that it is our 
privilege to be clean : therefore, let us — let us 
cleanse ourselves. We shall feel much plea- 
santer when we are clean. 

8. Scripture expostulations prove, that you 
may be perfected in love, or cleansed from all sin. 
The Lord hath spoken through the mouth of his 
prophet Jeremiah, and said : O Jerusalem ! wilt 
thou not be made clean 1 when shall it once be.* 
This expostulation seems to say : I know thou 
wert born in sin, thy heart is a cage for unclean 
birds, thou art most vile and filthy, thou art a 
stench on the earth, and a smell in my nostrils ; 
but I have opened a fountain for thee, which is 
deep, wide, and clear, and full of healing virtue ; 
and I have called thee to wash and be clean, I 
have appointed ministers to show thee the way, 
and help thee in ; if thou wouldst wash, I should 
then delight in thee, I would take thee to my 
breast, and thou shouldst be with me for ever ; 

* Jer. 13, 27. 



66 

but thou wilt not wash, I have long stretched out 
my hands to receive thee, and yet thou wilt not 
come. Why tarriest thou? I wept, I groaned, 
I bled to wash thee. Thousands have come and 
proved me, and always found me true. But I wait 
for thee, I cannot give thee up. Thou hast al- 
ready cost me much, and still my bowels yearn. 
Come, O come, wilt thou not be made clean ? 
when shall it once be? 

9. The birth, life, death, resurrection, and in- 
tercession of Christ, prove that you may be perfect 
in love. He was born to save from all sin. The 
angels sung because he was born a Saviour. For 
what the law could not do, in that it was weak 
through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the 
likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned 
sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law 
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the 
flesh, but after the Spirit* And for the same 
purpose he lived — he sanctified himself — he set 
himself apart, to be a man of righteousness, labor 
and love : For their sakes I sanctify myself that 
they also might be sanctified through the truth.\ 
For this he died the shameful, painful, lingering, 
accursed death upon the cross. Perfecting souls 
in love, and receiving them to glory, were the 

* Rom- 8. 3-4. t John 17, 19. 



67 

objects he had in view, when he endured the 
cross, and despised the shame. Who gave him,- 
self for us, that he might redeem us from all ini- 
quity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, 
zealous of good works.* As he had this object 
in view during his birth, life and death, so by his 
resurrection from the grave of corruption, he set 
us an example of rising from a death of sin, to 
the life of God : and also proved it to be our pri- 
vilege. For if we have been planted together in 
the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the 
likeness of his resurrection.^ For in that he 
died, he died unto sin once : but in that he liveth, 
he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also your- 
selves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto 
God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.% Reckon ! 
That is, set your sins down on one side of the 
balance sheet, and the merits of Jesus down on 
the other ; and then cast up both sides, and reck- 
on ; and you will find your debt is paid, and the 
law is satisfied ; and while you reckon, you will 
find yourself a living man — dead indeed unto 
sin, and alive unto God. That is, you have no- 
thing to do with sin, and sin has nothing to do 
with you : but that you are alive unto God. As 
Jesus arose from the dead for this purpose, he 

♦Titos 2, 14. t Rom, 6. 5. t Rom. 6, 10-1 L 



68 
also ascended into heaven, and maketh interces- 
sion at God's right hand for the same purpose. — 
And if we go to God, by him, he is able to save 
us to the very uttermost. What his uttermost is, 
I cannot tell. The cobweb mind of a mortal 
cannot reach either the depth, length, breadth, or 
height of God's uttermost. But I dare venture 
to say, that when he saves a man to all intents 
and purposes, it implies, that he saves him from 
all sin, and fills his heart with love. Wherefore 
he is able also to save them to the uttermost 
that come unto God by him, seeing- he tver liveth 
to make intercession for them* It is true we 
are dreadfully degraded by sin, even to the utter- 
most dust of corruption ; but Jesus will allow 
his poor worms to creep to his cross ; and there 
his uttermost mercy flows, and saves from the 
uttermost, to the uttermost, all those that go to 
God by him. 

10. The offices of Jesus prove, that you may be 
perfect in love. As a prophet, he declared the 
truth to the people ; and spake as never yet man 
spake. He saw into the invisible world ; he also 
saw into the hearts of men ; so that he had re- 
sources which no man ever had. His words 
were spirit and life ; and they cleansed from 

* Heb. 7, 25. 



69 

sin. Once he said : Now ye are clean through the 
word which I have spoken unto you.* His ex- 
ceeding great and precious promises, and also 
his whole word were given, that we might be 
cleansed from pollution, and made partakers of 
the divine nature. And the nature of God is love. 
As a priest, Jesus cleanseth his people with his 
own blood. And O, how amazing is the virtue of 
his blood. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, 
and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the un- 
clean, sanctifeth to the purifying of the flesh: 
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who 
through the eternal spirit offered himself without 
spot to God; purge your conscience from dead 
works to serve the living God.\ That blood 
sprinkles now the throne of grace; and so shall 
he sprinkle many nations. And as a king, our Je- 
sus reigns, subduing our enemies under his feet. 
For our king is on his holy hill in Zion ; and he 
must reign ; and he shall reign, until his foes are 
made his foot-stool. One of the enemies of his 
throne, is sin ; and he is now destroying it by the 
preaching of his word, and the down-pouring of 
his Spirit. For Jesus was made king, on the 
throne of his Father David : That we being 
delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might 

* John 15, 3. i Heb. 9 ; 13-14. 



70 

serve him without fear, in holiness and righteous- 
ness before him, all the days of our life.* And 
be preserved until the day of his coming ; and 
then mount up in our chariot of love, fanned by 
the zeal of flaming seraphs, to sing the song of 
love, and drink at the ocean of love, for ever and 
ever. 

11. The titles of Jesus prove, that you may 
be perfect in love. He is called Jesus, that he 
may save his people ; not in their sins, or for 
their sins, or to their sins ; but from their sins, 
both inward and outward, and for ever. He is 
called Christ, because he will anoint his people 
with the Holy Ghost, and with the oily unction 
of the flame of love. He is called The Re- 
deemer, because he will redeem his people from 
all corruption, guilt, and sin ; and from the bond- 
age of the broken law ; and bring back the inhe- 
ritance of perfect love, which Adam lost through 
unbelief, and which we regain through faith in 
him. He is called the foundation stone, that 
his people may have a rock for their feet, being 
brought up out of the horrible pit and miry clay 
of sin ; and that they maybe established and fixed 
unwaveringly on. him, and it is a good thing, let 
men say what they can or will — it is a good thing 

* Luke I,' 74-75, 



n 

that the heart be established with grace. He is 
called the Lamb of God, because he taketh 
away the sin of the world : even into oblivion, or 
the land of forgetfulness for ever and ever. He 
is called the door, because his people may, by 
him, enter into this glorious dispensation of love, 
and live in love ; until the wings of love and arms 
of faith bear them safe to glory. He is called the 
bread of life, because his hungry people may 
eat and be filled with perfect love, and then live in 
perfect love, and increase in perfect love through 
the boundless ages of eternity. He is called the 
good shepherd, because his people may have 
life ; and have it more abundantly than the an- 
cient Jews ever had, and then that they may keep 
abounding more and more, in the more abundant 
life ; for they may add to the abundant, even the 
more abundant — and the exceeding more abund- 
ant. And now brethren : unto him that is able 
to do exceeding abundantly above all that ive ask or 
think, according to the poiver that ivorketh in us, unto 
him be glory in the Church, by Christ Jesus, throughout 
all ages, world without end.* Amen. 

* Eph. 3, 20-21, 



CHAP. VIII. 

REASONS, WHY EVERY MAN SHOULD BE ENTIRELY 
SANCTIFIED TO GOD. 

1. It is a duty to be entirely sanctified to God. — 
Because God has commanded his creatures to 
love him with all their hearts. And whosoever 
wilfully neglects thus to love him, commits a 
great sin. He loses justification, because he 
commits a known sin, by neglecting a known 
duty. And before that man can ever enjoy jus- 
tification, again, he must come with humble con- 
fession to the blood of Christ ; -and he must rely 
on the atonement for forgiveness. Some persons 
think it is an indifferent matter of choice, whether 
they love God perfectly, or not: and therefore 
they look at it as a trifling matter of no particu- 
lar moment. But let such persons read over the 
Epistles carefully, and I venture to say, before 
they have done, they will see it an imperative 
duty, to love God with all the heart. 

2. It is reasonable that every professor of reli- 
gion be sanctified to God, entirely. When you 
were sinners, you were all sin and no holiness : 
so now you are professors, it is but reasonable, 
that you should be all holiness and no sin. Sure- 
ly it is reasonable for you to be as entire in the 
service of God, as you formerly were in the ser- 



73 

vice of the devil. It is but reasonable, that the 
creature should love its perfect Creator. It is 
certainly reasonable that the redeemed should 
perfectly love his compassionate Redeemer. The 
needy ought to love his benefactor. It is reason 
that the delivered slave should love his kind de- 
liverer. The child ought perfectly to honor his 
father. And the servant ought perfectly to obey 
his master. Now God is our Creator, Redeemer, 
Benefactor, Deliverer, Father, and Governor: 
therefore we ought perfectly to love and obey 
him. 

3. When a person is bom again sanctification 
is begun, and the person is proportionately hap- 
py : but entire sanctification makes us more holy, 
and consequently we shall then be more happy. — 
Now happiness is the quest of every human crea- 
ture ; and but few find it; because but few are 
holy : for holiness and happiness must of neces- 
sity grow together. Wicked men are unhappy ; 
because they are unholy. Good men are happy 
men ; because they are holy. Devils are unhappy 
because they are unholy. Angels are happy be- 
ings; because they are holy. And the ever- 
blessed God is perfectly happy ; because he is 
perfectly holy. Therefore as holiness and hap- 
piness keep exact pace, if you will be very hap« 
4 



74 

py, you must be very holy. Sin is the spring of 
misery; and holiness is the handmaid of joy. — 
Therefore be ye holy. 

4. When a person is lorn again sanctification 
is begun, and the person is proportionately use- 
ful ; but entire sanctification m>akes us m,ore ho~ 
ly, and consequently we shall then be more useful. 
Some persons have no desire to be useful. The 
cause is, they are not holy. They must be clean 
who bear the vessels of the Lord. God can use 
a holy soul, because that soul will not take the 
glory to itself; but it will give all the glory to 
him. A holy soul gives looks, speaks words, and 
does deeds, which cut like razors in the sinner's 
heart. Many a sinner will walk a mile round 
rather than meet a holy man, because the con- 
duct of the holy reproves his deeds. But when 
a sinner is near death, he sends for the holiest 
man that he can find. Go, cries he, and fetch 
that man of God. And so you see both God and 
man will use the clean ; therefore be ye cleansed. 

5. When a person is born again sanctification 
is begun, and the person is proportionately safe ; 
but entire sanctification makes us more holy, and. 
consequently we shall then be more safe. The 
justified are but children in grace; and therefore 
they are proportionately weak: but the entirely 



75 
sanctified are men in Christ Jesus ; and therefore 
they are proportionately strong. The storm will 
easily disturb the roots of a tree that is but newly 
planted; while the sturdy oak will laugh at the 
storm and stand its ground. This is frequently 
the case in religion, while the weak in grace are 
carried about with every new doctrine and sleight 
of men ; the established will stand firm, and 
prove that it is a good thing that the heart be es- 
tablished in grace. Therefore if you would be 
safe, when winds blow and tempests roar, get 
your soul established with grace, or entirely 
sanctified to God. 

6. The more holy you are in this world, the more glo- 
rious will your reward be, in the world that is to come. 
There will be different degrees of glory in hea- 
ven ; because every man will be rewarded ac- 
cording to his works. While one shines as the 
firmament, another will shine as the stars. There 
is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon f 
and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth 
from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection 
of the dead.* Some persons have been amazingly 
acted upon by considering the difference of de- 
grees of glory in heaven ; and they have been 
very desirous to get near the throne. While 

* 1 Cor. 15,41-42. 



76 

others have said, they should be happy, if they 
did but just get into heaven. What ignoble minds 
these are. Poor lean soul, while thou thinkest 
to get just into heaven; by thy coolness thou 
mayest be just out. And then once lost, lost for 
ever. Lei us get made holy, that we may be fit 
to work ; and then let us work hard and wisely, 
that we may have a glorious reward. For God 
will reward us according to our works. 



CHAP. IX. 

HOW THE JUSTIFIED MAY GET THE BLESSING OF 
ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION. 

1. We must be entirely sanctified to God, by believing 
the suitable truth. Any justified believer in the 
Lord Jesus Christ, who feels his need of entire 
sanctification may receive it any moment, if 
he will believe the appropriate or suitable truth. 
Some persons have been for years striving to 
prepare themselves, and make themselves fit to 
receive the blessing; but by doing so they have 
insulted the Holy Spirit, and deprived themselves 
of full redemption ; for, " all the fitness he f e- 
quireth, is to feel our need of him." Others 
have for years sought it by their own good 
works ; but they could not obtain it; because 



77 
God has planned, that it shall be by faith alone, 
Some persons prescribe a way in which they 
think they shall receive it; while one says, I 
should like it as a mighty rushing wind ; another 
cries, I expect it as a still small voice : now both 
the one and the other are wrong, when they 
mark out a way for God to work ; *nd they com- 
mit a very dangerous act; for they ought sciip- 
turally to do the believing work, and he will take 
care scripturally to do the saving work: yea, 
heaven and earth and hell declare, that he is to 
his promise just. There are many who want to 
feel before they believe ; now such persons 
might just as well tell us, that they want to taste 
their food before they eat it ; and then we should 
know at once what to call them. The man that 
makes a saviour of his feelings, and continues to 
do so, must sooner or later sink into a hell of 
fire, and stay there for ever and ever; because 
Christ alone is set forth as a Saviour, and there 
is no other name given among men whereby 
God will allow us to be saved. So that it is 
Christ, or none ; and consequently it is by faith, 
or else not at all. There are some people who 
perceive it is by faith alone ; hence they set them- 
selves to wait for faith nineteen or twenty years, 
and then they intend to believe a little at once 3 



78 
until the work is made complete. This is a kind 
of semi-contempt of the doctrines of free, full 
and present salvation, to be received by faith, 
whenever we believe. For : 

" Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, 

" And looks to that alone ; 
u Laughs at impossibilities, 
u And cries, it shall be done." 

2. To be sanctified loholly by the truth, you must be 
lieve it according to the directions in the Bible. 

1st. You must believe simply. Cease seeking 
it by works : come to God just as you are ; and 
believe the promise only : fear not, doubt not, 
wait not; but come like a needy, humble child, 
to a beneficent parent ; and cast your naked soul 
on the naked truth. 

2nd. You must believe unwaveringly. Be re- 
solved that you will die rather than doubt. God 
cannot tell a lie ; therefore be determined to be- 
lieve him. A mighty man in Israel once said: 
" I would rather lay my head on this pulpit side, 
and have it severed from my body, than I would 
doubt the truth of my royal master." He hath 
said it ; and shall he not do it ? He hath spoken 
it ; and shall he not make it good ? 

3rd. You must believe in hope against hope. — 
When the props of human hope give way, and 
hope falls pondering down to the deepest dell of 



79 

real despair, it is the prerogative of faith in God 
to pierce the gloom and meet it in its fall, and 
touch and turn it into day. Like Abraham ; Who 
against hope believed in hope* For : He stag- 
gcred not at the promise of God through unbe- 
lief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to 
God. And was fully persuaded that, what he had 
promised, he was able also to perform^ 

3. The sanctifying truths which are to be be- 
lieved, are exceeding clear and plain. Let any 
man who feels his need of entire sanctification be- 
lieve the four following things ; and God will in- 
stantaneously cleanse his heart from inbred sin. 

1st. Believe, that God hath promised it in the 
Holy Scripture. 

2nd. Believe, that what God hath promised he 
is able to perform. 

3rd. Believe, that he is able and willing to do 
it now. 

4th. Believe, that he doth it. 

The following quotation from Mr. Wesley's 
Sermon, on the Scripture way of Salvation, is so 
amazingly clear and pointed on this subject, that 
it is almost impossible for a seeking soul to read 
it, without seeing clearly what the truths are 
which sanctify the soul. 

•Rom. 4, 13. t Rom. 4,20-21. 



•'But what is that faith whereby we are sancti- 
44 fied, saved from sin and perfected in love ?" 
44 It is a divine evidence and conviction, 1. That 
44 God hath promised it in the Holy Scripture. — 
<4 Till we are thoroughly satisfied of this, there 
" is no moving one step further. And one would 
44 imagine, there needed not one word more, to 
" satisfy a reasonable man of this, than the an- 
" cient promise, " Then will I circumcise thy 
44 heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the 
" Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all 
'* thy soul, and with all thy mind." How clearly 
** does this express the being perfected in love ? 
" How strongly — imply the being saved from all 
44 sin? For as long as love takes up the whole 
44 heart, what room is there for sin therein ? 

44 It is a divine evidence and conviction, Se- 
44 condly, that what God hath promised, he is 
44 able to perform. Admitting therefore that 
11 with men it is impossible to bring a clean 
44 thing out of an unclean, to purify the heart 
46 from all sin, and to fill it with all holiness ; yet 
<4 this creates no difficulty in the case, seeing 
u with God all things are possible." And surely 
44 no one ever imagined it was possible to any 
44 power less than that of the Almighty ! But if 



81 

n God speak, it shall be done. God saith, "Let 
" there be light : and there is light," 

" It is, Thirdly, a divine evidence and convic- 
w tion that he is able and willing to do it now. — 
" And why not? Is not a moment to him the 
u same as a thousand years? he cannot want more 
" time to accomplish whatever is his will. And 
" he cannot want or stay for any more worthi- 
" ness or fitness in the persons he is pleased to 
M honour. We may therefore boldly say, at any 
14 point of time, " Now is the day of salvation." 
11 To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not 
11 your hearts." " Behold ! all things are now 
" ready, come unto the marriage." 

" To this confidence, that God is both able and 
" willing to sanctify us now, there needs to be 
" added one thing more, a divine evidence and 
" conviction, that he doth it. In that hour it 
** is done. God says to the inmost soul, "Ac- 
" cording to thy faith be it unto thee !" Then 
" the soul is pure from every spot of sin ; " it is 
•* clean from all unrighteousness." The believer 
" then experiences the deep meaning of these so- 
M lemn words, " If we walk in the light as he is 
"in the light: we have fellowship one with ano- 
u ther, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son* 
4 - cleanseth us fro^m all sin." . 

4* 



82 
44 But does God work this great work in the 

44 SOUl " GRADUALLY Or INSTANTANEOUSLY ?" 

44 Perhaps it may be gradually wrought in some, 
" I mean, in this sense, they do not advert to the 
44 particular moment, wherein sin ceases to be. 
44 But it is infinitely desirable, were it the will of 
44 God, that it should be done instantaneously ; 
44 that the Lord should destroy sin by the breath 
44 of his mouth, in a moment, in the twinkling 
44 of an eye. And so he generally does ; a plain 
44 fact, of which there is evidence enough to sa- 
44 tisfy any unprejudiced person. Thou therefore 
44 look for it every moment. Look for it in the 
44 way above described : in all those good works 
44 whereunto thou art " created anew in Christ 
44 Jesus." There is then no danger ; you can be 
44 no worse, if you are no better for that expecta- 
44 tion. For were you to be disappointed of your 
44 hope, still you lose nothing, but you shall not 
44 be disappointed of your hope: it will come, 
44 and not tarry. Look for it then every day, 
44 every hour, every moment. Why not this 
14 hour, this moment? Certainly you may look 
44 for it now, if you believe, it is by faith. And 
44 by this token you may surely know whether 
44 you seek it by faith or works. If by works, 
44 you want something to be done first, eefore 



83 

44 you are sanctified. You think 4< I must first 
M be or do thus or thus." Then you are seeking 
44 it by works unto this day. If you seek it by 
44 faith, you may expect it as you are : then ex- 
44 pect it now. It is of importance to observe 
44 that there is an inseparable connexion between 
44 these three points, expect it by faith, expect 
" it as you are, and expect it now! To deny 
" one of them, is to deny them all. To allow 
" one, is to allow them all. Do you believe 
44 we are sanctified by faith ? Be true then to 
41 your principle ; and look for this blessing just 
44 as you are, neither better nor worse ; as a poor 
44 sinner that has nothing to pay, nothing to 
44 plead, but Christ died. And if you look for 
44 it as you are, then expect it now. Stay for 
44 nothing : why should you? Christ is ready ; 
44 and he is all you want. He is waiting for you : 
44 he is at the door ! Let your inmost soul cry out, 

*' Come in, come, thou heavenly guest! 

" Nor hence again remove : 
" But sup with me, and let the feast 

c< Be everlasting love. 

44 'Tis done, thou dost this moment save 

" With full salvation bless ; 
u Redemption through thy blood I have, 

" And spotless love and peace." 



CHAP. X. 

MEANS BY WHICH YOU MAY CONTINUE SANCTIFIED 
TO GOD, AND GROW IN GRACE. 

There are many who once enjoyed the blessing 
of perfect love, that have now lost it. Some 
have received it a number of times, and after all, 
are now without it. But thank God, they may 
come again, although they have been unfaithful; 
for the fountain is still open, and Jesus is still at 
the mercy-seat, in order to save. The following 
thoughts are written to preserve those who re- 
ceive it, from fickle unfaithfulness. 

1. In order to keep yourselves in the love of 
God, you must confess it. The fear of man, 
which brings a snare, sometimes hinders people 
from confessing. But this should be conquered. 
Many have resisted the Holy Spirit when they 
ought to have confessed the blessing ; and by 
doing so, they have from that very moment lost 
it. Confessing entire sanctification does not ex- 
alt self; no, it humbles the soul, and gives glory 
to God! 

2. To "keep it you must continue to believe. We 
are kept by the power of God through faith. As 
soon as people give up believing, they presently 
lose the blessing : and no wonder, for we stand 



85 
by faith. Sanctified Paul said, the life which I 
now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the 
Son of God. St. Peter said, that the ancient 
christians were kept by the power of God through 
faith unto salvation* 

3. To keep it you must live constantly in the 
spirit of self-denial Of every thing sinful, of 
course you must deny yourself; and also of every 
thing doubtful. There are some gratifications 
which 'are not forbidden in scripture; but it is 
not expedient for a sanctified soul to use them. 
The safest way. is to let them alone. Thousands 
have fallen by lawful things. Be on your guard, 
or one moment may spoil the work of fifty years. 

4. To keep it you must live in the spirit of 
watchfulness constantly. Watch against tempta- 
tion, and resist in a moment, steadfast in the faith. 
Watch against a light trifling spirit, by which 
hundreds have fallen into gloom and solid dark- 
ness. Watch against the world ; for it is full of 
allurement; and every thing that is sensual has 
a tendency to lull the soul. Be awake and keep 
your eyes open. Be very jealous of your tongue 5 
and bridle it. 

5. To keep it you must he faithful to the emo- 
tions of the Holy Ghost. Follow the Spirit of 

* 1 Pet. 1, 5. 



86 
God, let consequences be what they will. — 
The Holy Ghost will sometimes remind you, 
that it is the hour of prayer; and if you do not 
promptly attend, you may in one moment forfeit 
full redemption. Perfect love is a very ten- 
der dove ; and it will immediately take its flight, 
if you do not every moment walk after the Spirit 
of God. 

6. To keep it you must read the Holy Scrip- 
tures much. They are spirit and life. They are 
soul-food. And perfect love will require some 
food every day. If you do not give it bible meat 
it will die. All those who have enjoyed perfect 
love have found strength, comfort, and direction 
in the word of God. And those who have been 
the clearest in perfect love, have been persons 
who paid the greatest attention and deference to 
the word of life. 

7. To keep the blessing of perfect love you 
mv st constantly aim at growing in grace. Many 
people have lost the blessing through not press- 
ing after a greater fulness ; for there are heights, 
and depths, and lengths, and breadths of the love 
of God, to which we must be constantly aspiring; 
and if we do not press after them, we shall most 
likely be going backward, and losing what we 
had before attained. 



87 

8. To keep it you must live constantly under a 
sense of the presence of God. Always remember, 
thou God seest me. If you knew that more than 
twelve legions of angels were looking at you con- 
stantly, Oh how carefully would you stand on 
your guard, and take care to act aright ; but Oh, 
you are watched every moment, by an eye, that 
is a million times keener than the eyes of angels : 
that awful eye, is the eye of god. Live con- 
stantly under a sense of his immediate presence, 
and then his guarding eye will keep you safe. 

9. To keep it you must constantly give your- 
self unto prayer. Be a man of prayer. Pray 
early in the morning, and if possibe, remain on 
your knees for thirty minutes. This will prepare 
you for the day. Pray often, and then prayer 
will soon become a delight; and you will do exe- 
cution. Stay with God in prayer — stay till he 
melts you — and then stay when you are melted ; 
and plead with God, and he will answer, and you 
will get changed, and transformed, and renewed. 

10. To keep it you must labor hard for the sal- 
vation of sinners. It is the nature of perfect love, 
to lead you to long for the salvation of souls; and 
if you do not go out with God for the salvation 
of men, your love will cool down into apathy, 
and indifference ; and you will lose the evidence 



88 
of entire sanctification altogether. When your 
heart yearns over sinners, go to God in prayer, 
and go to sinners with manly sympathy ; and 
you will find it an excellent means of grace to 
your soul. A holy oil that will anoint you. 



chap. xi. 

IT IS THE DUTY OF EVERY CONVERTED PERSON TO 
LABOR FOR GOD, AND THE SALVATION OF SOULS. 

God has fixed his plan for saving souls ; and 
if men will act upon that plan, signs will follow. 
He has a right to choose his own instruments and 
ways ; and in his amazing mercy, in this thing 
also, he has passed by angels, and chosen man 
to be the means of saving man. This choice puts 
great honour upon us, who are but dust and ashes; 
and we sometimes stand upon the tip-toe of won- 
der, to think, that worms of the dust should 
be allowed to do business for a king. And yet % 
so it is, for God does very little in the saving de- 
partment without the active concurrence of his 
favorite instruments — the things which are not* 
to bring to nought the things which are. 

1. Every aged person that gets converted to 
God, ought to labor for the salvation of souls, if 
he can. It is a very great mercy that the Lord 
uill receive an old man, that has been spending 



89 
all his days in the service of the devil ; but such 
is his amazing mercy, that he is glad to pardon 
him. As such persons have spent all the best 
part of their lives in the service of sin, they ought 
to spend their few remaining days in doing some- 
thing for God ; and striving, if possible, to undo 
some of the evil which they have done. Some- 
times even a word from the aged will make a 
deep impression on the mind. Poor old soul 9 
go into thy God's vineyard, and labor ; and God 
will pay thee thy penny. It is now the eleventh 
hour with thee, and thou canst not do much ; but 
never mind, go to the vineyard, and do what thou 
canst; for there is great want of laborers. 

2. Every young person that gets converted to 
God, ought to labor for the salvation of souls, in 
every possible ivay. When a person is born 
again, one of his first prayers is, Lord save my 
father and mother, and brothers and sisters. — 
Many a time God has heard and answered these 
virgin prayers; and the parent will have to 
thank God to all eternity, that ever the child was 
converted. This first love should be kept, and 
improved. However, the young must mind and 
not be proud, because God has used them ; but 
they must be humble, and go on. They must 
take the advice of their superiors who have born@ 



90 
the burden and heat of the day; for after all, the 
old disciples know a many things, which young 
ones have to learn. Always be willing to be 
taught, and then labor hard, and it will keep you 
out of mischief, and God will bless your labors, 
and you may be the means of bringing hundreds 
of souls to Christ. 

3. Every converted person that has ten talents, 
ought to labor for the salvation of souls. Mental 
abilities, worldly honors, and this world's wealth 
are talents committed to men's care, for which 
they are accountable to God. And it is a mercy, 
that God will allow them to use these talents. — 
But by those persons who have had much com- 
mitted to their care, a great account must be 
given : For unto ivhomsoever much is given, of 
him shall much be required : and to whom men 
have committed much, of him they will ask the 
more* Some men have great opportunities and 
abilities to do good, w T ho use their talents to di- 
vert themselves, and play with their fellow-crea- 
tures : — wonder how they will face their judge 
at the last day ; and how their accounts will be 
settled. Perhaps it may turn very dark, and an 
awful storm may come on, when their accounts 
are balanced. Go, ye men of great gifts, go in- 



Luke 12, 48. 



; 



91 

to the vineyard and labor ; it will be no disgrace 
to be made instruments in saving souls; but if 
you intend to play yourselves in the vintage 
time, you had better be getting your backs ready 
for a beating ; for God is preparing many, many 
stripes, 

4. Every converted person that has but one ta- 
lent, ought to labor for the salvation of souls. — 
Those who have but moderate abilities are some- 
times very much tempted not to labor, and too 
frequently they sink into apathy and indifference. 
Now, to do so, is very foolish and wicked. It is 
very foolish, because the salvation of souls does 
not depend on the abilities of men ; for if it did, 
then the greatest minded men would get the 
most souls to Christ : but experience proves that 
those men who have generally been the most 
useful in saving souls, have been men of the slen- 
derest abilities. It is said of some great revival- 
ists, that they have but one sermon, which fits 
any text that you can mention. However, it is 
a real truth, that God hath chosen the things 
which are not, to bring to nought the things 
which are. It is wicked not to labor for souls, 
because every man must give an account to God 
at the last day; and woe to the man that hides 
his talent in the earth. 



92 

5. Every person ought to labor for God, and 
the salvation of souls, according" to his opportu- 
nities and abilities, in all places, and at all times t 
as long as he lives. Because the salvation of the 
soul is precious — because the soul is of an amaz- 
ing value— because the time of its probation will 
soon be at an end — because at all times the soul 
is in danger — and because devils are every mo- 
ment striving to ruin souls; therefore let us la- 
bor — labor hard — and labor long; even as long 
as we live. The warrior who is fighting for souls 
must mind and not pull off his helmet, or ungird 
his loins, or take off his shoes, or unloose his 
breast-plate, or ungrasp his shield or sword ; for 
if ever he puts off his armour, it is ten thousand 
to one, whether he can ever put it on again. — 
Many have thought they could lay down the 
work of God, and then take it up again ; but they 
have found themselves mistaken— awfully mis- 
taken. How pleasing it is, to hear an old disci- 
ple say : My day is gone, my work is nearly 
done ; but I do not mean to rust out, I mean to 
wear out, in the same good work. If an old 
workman ever reads this little book, the writer 
prays, that God may bless him through it ; and 
may his sun set clear at last. 

6. Every converted person ought to labor for 



93 

the salvation of souls, because souls are of an 
amazing value. One soul is worth more than the 
world ; because that soul will live when the world 
is blown up. If you were to get a pair of scales, 
and put ten worlds as valuable as this in one 
scale, and put one soul in the other, that one 
soul would far outweigh the whole. One soul is 
worth more than ten thousand worlds, or twice 
ten thousand ; and the whole solar system put in 
at the bargain : for the soul is capable of infinite, 
I exquisite, and eternal bliss; or of infinite, in- 
1 tense, and eternal pain : therefore as infinite ex- 
ceeds finite, so does the value of the soul exceed 
the value of material things. O how important 
J it must be to save these souls, for every man's 
j soul is of this amazing worth. If you were to 
take your balances to weigh the eternal weight 
f of glory ; and if y r ou were to weigh a scale full 
every hour, worth as much as the present world ; 
i and if you were to weigh from this world's birth- 
hour, to its death-hour, you would not weigh the 
I ten thousandth fraction, of the millionth part, of 
that eternal weight of glory. This glory is lost, 
I if the soul be lost ; and this glory is gained, if the 
i soul be saved. If you were to save a nation 
from being scorched to death by r fire, it would 
be considered a very great salvation ; but if your 



94 

neighbour is instrumental in the salvation of one 
soul, he does unspeakably more good, and is the 
means of a much greater salvation. For as time 
bears no proportion to eternity, so the salvation 
of bodies bears no proportion to the salvation of 
a soul. O then let us labor to save poor souls 
while it is day. O Lord, grant thy blessing to 
all efforts that are made for the salvation of men. 
7. Every converted person ought to labor for 
the salvation of souls, because souls are liable to 
be lost. If the antedeluvian sinners are now in 
prison, we may fear lest the doors be opened for 
us. If the sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah are 
suffering the vengeance of the eternal fire, then 
we must take care lest the flame kindle onus. If 
Belshazzar was weighed in the balances and 
found wanting, then there is a danger that we 
may not be found weight. If Dives lifted up his 
eyes in hell, then we must take warning lest we 
also go to that place of torments. If one soul of 
the human race is lost, then all the rest must be 
either saved or lost to all eternity. All those 
who do not repent and believe, are in danger 
every moment of being lost. Converted soul, 
take a survey of the millions that are posting 
down to endless night; and it will be a spur to 
your sluggishness. And remember it is your 



95 

prerogative to pull them out of the fire. Look 
to the dismal den to which sinners are prancing, 
and remember that many of them have taken 
their last step, so that the next step will be hell- 
fire, hell-blackness, hell-darkness, hell-prison, 
hell-pit, hell-brimstone, hell-groans, hell-tears, 
hell-wails, hell-gnashes, and hell-torments, for 
ever and ever. O christians, labor hard, for the 
necessity is extreme, and the danger is nigh, and 
the numbers are prodigious. 

8. Every converted person ought to labor for 
the salvation of souls, because if souls be once 
lost, they are lost for ever. Once lost, for ever 
lost. Once cursed, for ever cursed. So that it 
is, now or never, now or never, now or never 
turn to God. If the brand once takes fire, 
you can never quench it. Neither wealth, worth, 
nor blood, can ever redeem the lost. Because 
there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with 
his stroke : then a great ransom cannot deliver 
thee. % No, if God once takes sinners away with 
his stroke, even the blood of Christ cannot deliver 
them. In this world, if Job lose his possessions, 
they may be restored, if Nebuchadnezzar lose his 
reason, it may be restored, if Jonah lose his liber- 
ty, after three days, he may have it again, if La- 

* Job 36, 13, 



zarus lose his life, after four days, he may be 
raised again ; but if the soul be once lost, it is 
for ever lost. In that awful pit there is no Job's 
case, no Nebuchadnezzar's case, no Jonah's case, 
no Lazarus' case ; but it will be all one for ever.^ 
The sinner that you are now with, may, before 
to-morrow, be past mercy ; therefore for Christ's 
sake, and for the sake of his soul, strive now for 
his salvation. Weep, pray, plead, and persuade, 
with the utmost importunity. How awful the 
following reflection is : yesterday the Holy Spirit 
prompted me to warn a sinner, but I neglected 
to do so : to-day he died trembling in his sins, 
and barked like a dog when he died. What will 
the judge say to me when he comes? 

9. Every converted person ought to labor for 
the salvation of souls, because it is possible to 
save souls by laboring. Souls can be saved ! — 
Thank God, souls can be saved ! God the Father 
says, that the repenting, believing soul, shall be 
saved : Repent and turn yourselves from all 
your transgressions ; so iniquity shall not be 
your ruin* Jesus Christ also showed the pos- 
sibility of saving souls, when he said : Come un- 
to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I 
will give you rest^ The Holy Spirit also has con- 

* Ezek. 18,30. t Matt. 11,28. 



97 

firmed this doctrine, when he said : Let the wicked 
forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his 
thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and 
he will have mercy upon him ; and to our God, 
for he will abundantly pardon.* The angels in 
heaven believe that a repenting sinner will be 
saved, hence : There is joy in the presence of the 
angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.\ — 
The redeemed saints who are in the presence of 
God, are of opinion, that a returning penitent 
will find grace; hence they warned sinners to re- 
pent before they died ; and there is- joy in heaven 
over one sinner that repenteth, more than over 
ninety and nine just persons, which need no re- 
pentance^ The old serpent also knows, that the 
penitent will find grace ; hence, w 7 hen a man be- 
gins to repent, the devil begins to tempt him. — 
The very damned in hell believe, that repentance 
will save a man from torments ; hence, Dives 
prayed that Lazarus might be sent, to warn his 
five brethren to repent, lest they also went to 
that place of torments. § Good men on earth 
experience that repenting and believing save the 
soul from sin and the fear of death. And even 
the wicked know, that if they repent, the Lord 

* lea. 58, 7. t Lpke 15, 10. i Luke 15, 7. 

^ Luke 16, 20. 

5 



98 

will have mercy on them. Glory be to God, it 
is gloriously possible for the soul to be saved ; 
because it is possible to bring men to repentance. 
Men are generally brought to repent by the in- 
strumentality of men ; therefore let us labor to 
get sinners to Christ, lest their blood should be 
found in our skirts, at the last day. Let us all 
be doers, and let us always be doing. And may 
God add his blessing; and bring souls to Christ. 
10. Every converted person ought to labor for 
the salvation of souls, because God designs him 
to labor. You were converted and seasoned with 
grace, in order that you might salt this putrifying 
world, and keep it from destruction. It cannot 
be salted and preserved by any other means ex- 
cept by you ; therefore mind and keep your salt- 
ness, for if you lose it, the earth cannot be salted. 
Ye are the salt of the earth : but if the salt have 
lost its savour, ivherewiih shall it be salted ? it is 
thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, 
and to be trodden under foot of men J* You were 
converted and filled with light, in order that you 
might light up this poor groping world, and ex- 
pel the mists of error, and keep it from being lost 
at last. Ye are the light of the world. A city 
set on an hill cannot be hid* Neither do men 

* Matt. 5, 13, 



99 

light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on 
a candlestick ; and it giveth light unto all that 
are in the house. Let your light so shine before 
men, that they may see your good works, and glo- 
rify your Father which is in heaven* So you 
see God made you what you are, in order that 
you might be made a blessing to others : then if 
you answer God's design, you must labor for the 
salvation of souls. Take care and bear fruit, for 
if you do not, he will have you cut down, as a 
cumberground, and send you to the fire to be 
burned. What an awful curse came on Meroz ; 
because they came not up to the work of the 
Lord : Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the 
Lord, curse ye bilterly the inhabitants thereof: 
because they came not to the work of the Lord, to 
the help of the Lord against the mighty.^ Ques. 
Who was to be cursed ? Ans. Meroz was to be 
cursed. Ques. Who called for a curse on Me- 
roz? Ans. The angel of the Lord. Ques. What 
kind of a curse was Meroz to have? Ans. Curse 
them bitterly, said the angel of the Lord. Ques. 
What had Meroz done that they were to be curs- 
ed bitterly ? Ans. They had done nothing, noth- 
ing at all. And for that very reason curse them, 
curse them, curse them bitterly said the angel of 

* Matt. 5, 11=16. t Jud. 5, 23. 



100 

the Lord. Some professors run away from revi- 
val prayer-meetings, and speak against them, and 
try to stop them ; when, at the same time, they 
are nearly always afflicted, they are troubled with 
their temporal circumstances, their children are 
diseased and disabled : wonder whether the an- 
gel of the Lord has shed the bitter curse of Me- 
roz upon them. There are many sorrows come 
upon us — is there not a cause ? 

CHAP. XII. 

ON THE NEEDFUL QUALIFICATIONS TO FIT YOU 
FOR THE WORK OF GOD. 

1. Get, and always keep a clear evidence of 
entire sanctification. This you will secure by 
constantly believing the promises of God. By 
this means you will always be in tune for the 
work. And when you have no condemnation, 
you will always have confidence towards God. — 
And you will always have a holy boldness with 
respect to men. In short, when you are right 
with God yourself, every thing else will fall be- 
fore you. 

2. Take care to live before men so as that no 
man can lay sin to your charge. — A holy life i» 
a kind of recommendation to the consciences of 



101 

men; though they may at sometimes laugh the 
holy into scorn, they will secretly love them for 
their work's sake. If you do not live holy, they 
will soon say, Physician heal thyself ; but if you 
live holy, sinners will tremble, begin to pray, 
and find mercy; and then they will thank and 
love you. 

3. Get a deep concern for the perishing souls 
of men. This concern will be received by look- 
ing at the lives of sinners; and then looking in- 
to the word of God, to see what he says about 
them ; and then thinking of their nearness to in- 
finite and eternal punishment; and after that go 
into your closet to pray with particularity; until 
God melts you into a burning pity for mankind. 
This concern is the grand secert in soul-saving 
work. It is this which gives tones and energies 
to all efforts to save souls. This is the grand 
spell. May God plant it in the cool-hearted pro- 
fessors. 

4. Get clear thoughts on the native badness of 
the human heart. Kemember, sinners are totally 
depraved ; and at enmity with God ; and it is no 
small work to convert them. Yet bad as they 
are, do not faint at it ; for the things impossible 
with men, are possible with God. But you must 
look with open eye on the states of men, and 



102 
take care to meet them just where they are. — 
Look down into the pit of sin, and go down in 
pitying feelings and expressions where they are ; 
and weep and expostulate with them, and be un- 
wearied until you secure your point. God will 
meet you there. 

5. Closely study the accounts which we have of 
revivals in the New Testament. The Book, 
called the Acts of the Apostles, can never be stu- 
died too much by those persons who labor for 
the salvation of souls. It is said by some people, 
that the Book of Acts is the seed of things ; and 
if they are seeds, of one thing you may be sure; 
and that is, that those seeds will grow. Those 
Acts are a kind of example for all succeeding re- 
vivalists to the end of time. The means which 
brought about those revivals will always secure 
others ; and that Book of Acts is the best book in 
the world to manage a revival. 

6. Get clear apprehensions of the universality of 
the atonement made by Jesus Christ. Jesus made 
a full and complete atonement for all the sins of all 
mankind. If you do not get fixed and settled in the 
belief of this doctrine,you will frequently be much 
tempted and staggered in the work of God. If 
you are not clear on this point, you will be some- 
times ready to say, why this is such a very wicked 



103 

sinner, that I fear he cannot be saved ; and at 
other times you will be ready to say, why, per- 
haps this man is not elected, so that he cannot 
be saved. But if you get clear, you would sooner 
die than doubt, whether God will save any poor 
returning sinner or not. God is infinitely soli- 
citous to save even the very vilest of the vile ! — 
Praise his name ! 

7. Get a clear sight of the ability, willingness, 
and readiness of God to save. Frequently read 
the fifteenth chapter of Luke, for there Jesus 
shows that God gladly receives poor lost return- 
ing sinners : gladly, like the man who found his 
lost sheep ; gladly, like the woman who found 
her piece of silver : gladly, like the father who 
met and kissed his prodigal son, and received 
him. You need never pray to God to make him 
willing to save. No, he is gone infinitely further 
in desiring this, than any other being, either in 
heaven or earth. If it were possible for Beelzebub 
himself to come up and confront you, you might 
tell him to his face, that God is infinitely able, 
willing, and ready to receive returning sinners ; 
because Jesus is alive. 

8. Set it down in your mind, that the Spirit of 
God never works contrary to the word of God. — 
Nay, the Spirit scarcely ever works without the 



104' 

word. The Spirit is always in the word ; be- 
cause the word is spirit and life. Keep close to 
the Bible, and then you will be saved from the 
nonsensical trappings, and foolery of impulses, 
and dreams, and visions, into which some pro- 
fessors have fallen ; and made themselves and re- 
ligion look quite ridiculous. Keep close to the 
Bible, for remember the Spirit never leaves the 
word. 

9. Get clear views of the plan of salvation. In 
the New Testament you will find many short, 
full, and clear accounts of the whole plan of sal- 
vation. Many of these are complete epitomes of 
the gospel. Study them, and you will see the 
whole of God's plan in one view. Also, study the 
whole of the New Testament, as a treatise on the 
plan of salvation. Take the whole of the scrip- 
tures. Do not leave any part out of your creed. 
Take threatenings as well as promises. Take du- 
ties as well as privileges. In fact, eat the whole 
book ; and then you will taste the goodness of 
the word of God. Be careful how you use figures 
of speech, for there are very few that convey the 
whole plan of salvation. Think until you are 
clear, and then you can speak plainly. 

10. Be aware, that if you labor for God, you 
will be much tempted by the devil, and persecuted 



105 

by men. A manly expectation of trouble will be 
a preservative to your mind when troubles come. 
It is astonishing that those who aim at nothing 
but doing good, should be persecuted for their 
pains ; but it is a certainty, that those who set 
themselves to save souls, will soon be called mad 
men, and fanatics, and enthusiasts, and extrava- 
gants ; and they will be suspected and avoided 
as dangerous persons ; but never mind, God will 
rectify the whole affair when he comes. One of 
the most painful things is, that many of those 
who oppose the work of God, cause the young 
converts to fall from their steadfastness, and then 
triumph when they have devilishly succeeded. — 
But never mind while you stand on scriptural 
ground, and hide yourself behind real effects, no- 
thing can harm you, either from men or devils. 

11. Always remember, that all saving good is 
done in answer to believing prayer. Sometimes 
you will hear persons intimate, that God has 
been pleased of his own sovereign goodness, to 
send a revival of his work without any means 
whatever. But if you look into the affair, 
you will find that prayer has generally been 
made by some one, or more, somewhere ; and 
generally, you will find that prayer has been 
made exactly proportionate to the effect. It is 



106 

true, that sometimes the wise, and prudent, and 
great ones, are not conscious that there has been 
any special pleading ; for it frequently happens 
that the effectual prayer has gone from some 
poor widow's hut, or from the heart of some one 
that has been scowled at, scores of times, for say- 
ing, amen, in the congregation, God does very 
little ; only in answer to prayer ; but he has en- 
gaged to do for us, in answer to prayer, what- 
ever we ask. Pray, pray, pray. 

12. Get clear and scriptural views of the doc- 
trine of believing. If you be confused in your 
own mind about believing, you will be confused 
in all your schemes and labors. And it is clear, 
that one act of believing will do more than the 
labour of twenty years without it. If you are not 
clear on believing, you will be in great danger of 
contradicting yourself, and poor penitents will 
not know what to do. Always remember, that it 
is not the power that brings believing; but it is 
believing that brings the power : — that it is not 
feeling that brings believing ; but believing 
brings feeling : — that it is not salvation that 
brings believing; but believing brings salvation. 
And always remember that every character can 
this moment believe the truths which God com- 
mands him to believe. Therefore be determined 



107 
never to encourage waiting for fitness, or feeling, 
or power to believe, or for faith, or any other 
thing; but fearlessly and determinedly require 
every character to believe the truths which God 
commands him to believe ; but at the same time 
you must remember, that no character can sav- 
ingly believe the truths which are not appropriate 
to his state or case. Above all, be a real prac- 
tical believer yourself; and you will find, that be- 
lieving moves that arm, that moves the worfd. 



CHAP. XIII. 

ON THE VARIOUS WAYS OF LABOURING FOR THE 
SALVATION OF SOULS. 

1. Much may he done by praying for sinners 
in the closet. Indeed most revivals of religion 
begin in private prayer. If your heart be bur- 
dened for the salvation of men, and you feel wil- 
ling to be any thing, so that souls may be saved, 
you are in the right state to begin with. Go 
through your cities and villages, and take a sur- 
vey of the people, and notice their sins. Survey 
their desolations, until your heart aches with 
grief, on account of their crimes. Go through 
the various neighborhoods and find out what are 



108 

the reigning sins of each. Be particular, for to 
you, as well as to a physician, it is important, to 
know the nature and badness of the disease. — 
Find out, if possible, what is the reigning sin of 
every family, open your eyes and look minutely. 
Do not turn away from them with disgust. Do 
not let them alone, as they wish you to do ; but 
stay and weep over them with deep concern and 
sympathy. Think how they dishonor God. — 
Think how they ruin the rising generation. — 
Think what thousands of them are in the way to 
endless misery. Think of the value of their 
souls. Think of the abominableness of their 
crimes. Think what love they are slighting.— 
Think of him that trembled, wept, and bled, to 
save them. Think of his ability, willingness, 
and readiness, to save them now. Think what 
God has done for you. Think what he has 
done for Manasseh, the murderer; for David, 
the adulterer ; for Magdalene, the harlot ; 
and for Saul, the persecutor. And think what 
he is desiring to do for these poor souls. Nay, 
think until your soul harrows up within you; 
and the fountains of the great deep are broken 
up with grief. And then go with your burdened 
heart to your closet, and bewail the sins of the 
people before the Lard. Take up a lamentation 



109 

for the people, and bewail the number, and na- 
ture, and aggravation, and consequences of their 
sins, with particularity. As much as possible, 
make their sins your own ; that is, feel for them, as 
though you were in their condition.. Yoke your- 
self in with them. Be particular in confessing 
their sins. Do not cloak them ; for sin must be 
confessed by some one. Like Nehemiah and 
Daniel, confess them again and again. While 
you are confessing, keep casting your soul, and 
their souls, and their sins on the atonement. — 
Recognize the infinite willingness of Jesus to 
save them, and plead with him for their salva- 
tion. Do not plead to make him willing ; but to 
do your duty, and concur with his plan. Plead 
definitely: bring one case at a time. Plead for 
Christ's sake : God regards the name of his well- 
beloved Son. Plead in faith : ask in faith, noth- 
ing wavering. Plead again and again. Stick to 
it. Plead the value of their souls. Plead the 
shortness of time. Plead the length of eternity. 
Plead the sinfulness of sin. But plead the love 
of God. Plead the birth, life, sufferings, death, 
and intercession of Christ. Plead the promises 
of God, And plead what he has done. And if 
your strength and opportunities will allow, stay 
and plead for hours. And often do this. By 



110 

this means you will soon find out the secret of 
shaking a town or a village. The late John Smith 
has sometimes stayed for hours in this work, 
sometimes six hours at once. This staying with 
God, as that mighty man of God used to term it, 
was the great spring of the amazing revivals of 
religion, in which he was the principal instru- 
ment. When a friend once asked him, why he 
saw so much good done : why, cried he, in his 
energetic way, it's knee business. We want a 
few more such men as these to stand in the gap. 
Go, ye people of God, and plead, and God will 
answer. Go thou and do likewise. 

2. Much maybe dune by conversing personally 
with the wicked. Like our heavenly master, we 
must go after the lost, to seek and save them. — 
Sin ought to be reproved wherever we see it. Go 
to the sinner with a heart full of concern for his 
welfare : chide the sin ; and expostulate with the 
man. But on all occasions, let him see that you 
interfere, because of the love you feel for his soul. 
Try to learn the art of reproving with meekness, 
while you hate the sin, show that you love the 
sinner. Some people cannot reprove sin without 
flying in a passion to do it: and consequently 
they frequently get repulsed ; and the sinner is 
made w T orse, rather than better. Sometimes 



Ill 

people reprove sinners as though they were 
lords, and the wicked were their servants ; but 
this is sure to make the wicked contend and 
strive to justify themselves. A few well chosen 
words of scripture often do the most execution. 
If all the people of God would rise up against 
the wicked, they would soon be put a stop to. — 
Reproving them is rough work, and therefore 
but few people like to do it; but if you enter in- 
to it in a proper spirit, God will abundantly bless 
you in your deed. Go to the houses of the 
wicked, and discourse with them freely concern- 
ing their souls. Let them see in the beginning, 
that love for their souls causes you to discourse 
with them. Inquire the state of their souls, and 
suit your remarks accordingly. First aim at se- 
curing conviction on account of sin. Show them 
their state by nature ; and the sinfulness of their 
practices. Be not too tender handed, but probe 
the wound to the very bottom. If you see signs 
of real repentance, rejoice and be glad. But still 
keep to the law; until you get an ingenuous con- 
fession of sin. A few minutes discourse will 
sometimes bring people into real repentance, — 
When you believe the law has cut them deep 
enough, bring the gospel. And be particular in 
telling them why the death of Jesus procured 



112 

them pardon. If all seems clear, betake your- 
selves to your knees, there and then, and plead 
mightily with God for pardon, and tell the peni- 
tent while you are on your knees what to believe. 
Stay and pray again and again. Do not give it 
up; for people easily lose conviction when they 
are left to themselves. Thousands, and tens of 
thousands have sinned real repentance away; 
but when you get them into mercy, they are safe. 
Thank God, many hundreds have been brought 
to him, by means of this personal conversation, 
who are now safe in glory, or else on their way. 
Go to visit the sick and afflicted, and you will 
often find poor convicted souls longing for the 
salvation of God. Immediately when you enter 
a sick man's room, strike home with some pointed 
question that will sound to the bottom of his soul. 
Now and then you will find a man that is hard- 
ened in sin, even when afflicted. When you 
meet with one of these, lay home the law with all 
your might. Do not flinch, for perhaps you are 
then talking to a dying man, and if he is not saved 
that visit, perhaps he will drop into hell for ever. 
You will often find sick people who say they are 
sinners ; but yet they do not feel the burden of 
their sins. With these you must be very patient, 
and use some trouble to inform them of the state 



113 

of human nature, and the plan of salvation by 
faith ; and in many instances, by the blessing of 
God, you will hear them cry out for mercy. Al- 
ways get to prayer when things come to this; 
but in some cases you must mind and not pray 
too loud, for some people cannot bear it. By 
your faith and prayer, always secure the presence 
of your master in the room. Urge all the sick, 
who are real penitents, to believe on Christ im- 
mediately; for even a thought's delay maybe ruin 
here. Do not give up any case, for while there 
is life, there is hope. In this blessed work you 
will often see the glory of God beaming through 
a grief-worn countenance, and hear broken words 
of praise and blessing come from their stammer- 
ing tongues. Many a man who has stood out 
against twenty or thirty years public preaching, 
has been conquered by fifteen minutes of close 
private conversation. 

3. Exceeding much may be done in saving 
souls by the preaching of the gospel. Those 
who are moved by the Holy Spirit to preach the 
gospel, may be rendered amazing blessings to 
mankind, if they will be faithful in their work ; 
because the gospel is expressly called, the Gos- 
pel of Salvation. God never calls an uncon- 
verted man to preach the gospel ; because his 



114 

carnal mind could not discern the things of the 
Spirit. If any man who has been called to the 
work, should be unfaithful to the call, it is very 
likely that he would lose all his religion, and 
perhaps his soul *also. Some men get into the 
priest's office for a piece of bread, or to make a 
trade of it, or to gain the esteem of the ladies ; 
but God will settle with those shepherds by and 
by. Now and then people think it is a very hap- 
py and honourable thing to be a local preacher ; 
and called or not called, they begin to preach : 
now such people will always get their reward for 
their labor ; half of it when they are travelling 
from their appointments in the depth of winter 
and dark nights, and the other half at the day of 
judgment, when God may say : J have not sent 
these prophets, yet they ran : I have not spoken to 
them, yet they prophesied* Is not my vwrd like 
as a fire ? saith the Lord ; and like a hammer 
that breaketh the rock in pieces ? Therefore, be- 
hold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, 
that steal my words every one from his neighbour. 
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, 
that use their tongues, and say, He saith.f To 
those who are called of the Lord to this work, 
the following observations may be of use. In all 

*Jer. 23, 21. t Jer. 23, 29-31. 



115 

your preparations, prayers, and preaching, take 
care and aim at the salvation of souls above every 
other thing. Let your cry be, souls, souls, souls, 
souls, I cannot be comforted without souls. This 
feeling for souls will help you in choosing texts, 
and studying them, and preaching them, and 
praying about appointments, and in every other 
thing. Concern in a preacher's heart is like a 
main spring in a watch, it sets every thing a go- 
ing. A preacher that has no concern for souls, 
is like a sign-post, you look at it when it is first 
put up, and it is a sign-post, you look at it at the 
end of ten years, and it is a sign-post still, at 
thirty years' end, and it is still a sign-post, which 
never compelled one poor traveller to turn in ; 
and it will be a mercy if such a man is not a 
sign-post at the day of judgment, to be nailed up 
above the devil's door, to tell all the world where 
those preachers are to go, that wore the people's 
clothes, and lived in their houses, and ate their 
bread ; but never cared for their souls. O, ye 
pulpit men, mind and care for the souls of the 
people ; and then you will find every thing 
goes well. Those of you who feel this concern 
will not be above looking at the following direc- 
tions. As early as possible begin to pray about 
the next place where you have to preach. Con- 



116 

fess the sins of the people to God. Strive to find 
out the exact state of the people : pray about it. 
Pray that God may give you suitable truth. And 
then when you are studying the truth, pray much 
for the people. You will be useful just in pro- 
portion as you pray before-hand : therefore pray 
much. Study until you see and feel the truth 
yourself, and then ask the Holy Spirit to print it 
on your heart- One sermon gotten from the 
Lord in this way, is better than a million from 
skeleton books. Besides, if it is but a sling and 
a stone, its your own ; and you will know how 
to sling with it. There are a many slings besides 
David's ; and there have been many Philistines 
slain with them besides Goliath of Gath. When 
the hour for preaching comes on, if possible, go 
from your knees to the pulpit. Take care to 
choose suitable hymns before you go ; and give 
them out with solemnity and faith ; and be going 
out after God in your own soul while you are 
singing. When you pray the first time, do not 
begin too loud. Always have a general confes- 
sion of sin at the beginning of your prayer ; and 
afterward recognize the atonement, and cast 
yourself and the whole assembly on it, by acts of 
faith : when you begin to plead for sinners, do it 
with feeling, do not seem to scold the people in 



117 

prayer, or else you will set them against the? 
truth ; let them see that you love their souls, and 
then you may do any thing with them. When 
you begin your sermon, speak slowly, and in a 
low tone, for the people are not ready to be 
transported yet; but rise gently and gradually, 
always be sure to take the people with you, or 
else they will be disgusted with you ; but when 
the people go out with you, you may go to al- 
most any length. Keep one aim all the way 
through, and let that be the salvation of souls — - 
Whatever else you do or do not, always preach 
in faith. When your last prayer comes, let it 
take hold of all the principal points and parts of 
your sermon ; so that it shall be almost impossi- 
ble for the wicked to go away without being 
wounded. In this last prayer be determined. — 
Come to your desperate points ; and be deter- 
mined to dash pearls into atoms rather than miss 
your prize. Here let your pity speak with all 
its tones ; and the ever-blessed God will do as 
he always has done. He will bless the word 
that has gone out of his mouth. 

4. Much more may be done by holding public 
prayer meetings after preaching. Most of the 
revivals that have taken place of late years, both 
in America and England, have been carried on 



118 

by means of these prayer meetings after preach- 
ing. Sunday evening sermons are generally the 
most proper to hold prayer meetings after. Ma- 
ny thousands of people have returned from pub- 
lic worship burdened on account of sin, who 
would most likely have found mercy long ere 
now, if the preachers of the gospel had generally 
held prayer meetings after their Sunday evening 
services. The following remarks concerning 
these prayer meetings may be of use in our socie- 
ties at the present time. Always let the person 
who has been preaching, take the management 
of the prayer meeting ; because the people ex- 
pect it ; and men can generally manage their 
own work the best. But if the preacher cannot 
stay, let him always nominate some one who 
shall take the management. After having sung 
an appropriate verse or two, the whole of the 
congregation should be respectfully requested to 
kneel down during prayer, and not to gaze about 
them on any account ; but to be solemnly en- 
gaged in prayer with God. It is generally best 
to hold these meetings for twenty-five or thirty 
minutes for solemn prayer, and no person to be 
allowed to speak, even to a mourner, unless in 
extraordinary instances. Those who pray at the 
beginning of these meetings should always be 



119 

persons of, some abilities, and of considerable 
knowledge in the work of God; but it is aston- 
ishing that the devil will often set some loose 
lived professor to pray, in order to drive the peo- 
ple, or to tlamp the influence ; for those who 
ought to hold their noise, are generally the for- 
wardest in these meetings. The leader of the 
meeting has a right to stop such, if he knows 
their lives to be bad ; for many a blessed work 
has been stopped by these tools of the devil. — 
Those who pray at the commencement of the 
meeting, should pray short; and the person who 
prays should always be heard above all the rest ; 
unless the cries of mourners drown him ; but 
if they do, all is well, go on, the point is gained. 
But while the voice of the meeting is heard above 
all the rest, every other person must be fervently 
engaged in prayer, and not lolling themselves on 
the pews or benches. "When the meeting has 
been kept thirty minutes, it is mostly proper to 
conclude it, that those who feel disposed may re- 
tire home. But if there be any signs of distress, 
begin the meeting again ; and ask those who are 
distressed, to go and kneel at the altar. Then 
let the leader of the meeting call two or three 
persons to the altar, to speak to the mourners ; 
but let no person speak to mourners, unless they 



120 

are called to do so by the leader of the meeting* 
This will keep improper persons from talking to 
mourners ; for the devil will set his favorite in- 
struments to work here also, if he can. When 
this is done, let the meeting still be carried on in 
solemn prayer; but if mourners are crying out, 
there will be less appearance of order in the 
meeting; but never mind, it is blessed order 
when souls are crying out and getting forgive- 
ness. This is not disorder with God ; no, it is 
sin that is disorder with him. Those w r ho talk 
to mourners, should get every one they talk with 
into liberty before they leave them. You should 
first ask them the state of their minds ; and aim 
to get them to repentance and confession. You 
must answer their doubts, by bringing the word 
of God for your instrument. When you believe 
the mind is really broken for sin and from sin, 
present Jesus. As short and plain as possible, 
show them why they can be saved through be- 
lieving in Jesus. Get them to believe his ability 
— and willingness — and readiness to save them 
then. But you must also get them to believe he 
doth it. As soon as any person finds pardon, tell 
it to the congregation, and desire them to join 
the new-born soul in singing : Praise God from 
whom all blessings flow, 6pc. Get the name and 



121 

place of abode of every one that finds peace ; and 
engage them to meet in some class ; and if you 
think it needful, set some one to call for them, 
and take them to class at the usual time of meet- 
ing. By this time, very likely, there will be peo- 
ple in distress in every part of the chapel. The 
leader may then set some persons to go and talk 
to the mourners in their pews ; but it is generally 
the best to get them to the altar, or mourner's 
bench. O thank God, what thousands, both in 
America and England, have found mercy in such 
meetings as these. All the argument that I shall 
offer to vindicate these meetings, is this : — Souls 
are saved — thank God, souls are saved. I shall 
therefore leave the leader of the meeting to con- 
clude when he will ; for if God be saving souls, 
he wont offend me if he stays till morning. I will 
only warn him of one thing, and that is : that it 
is at his peril that he concludes the meeting while 
there is one soul seeking mercy. O what blessed 
work this is ! 

6 



CHAP. XIV. 

EXHORTATIONS TO SINNERS, BACKSLIDERS, PENI- 
TENTS, AND BELIEVERS. 

1. An exhortation to sinners to repent. Thank 
God, you may repent ; whether you are a swearer, 
or liar, or sabbath-breaker, or drunkard, or infi- 
del, or atheist, or any thing else. O repent, or 
you will be ruined to all eternity. Repent, for 
God desires you : As I live, saith the Lord God, 
I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but 
that the wicked turn from his way and live : turn 
ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye 
die ?* Repent, for God invites you : Repent, and 
turn yourselves from all your transgressions : so 
iniquity shall not he your ruin. Cast away from 
you all your transgressions, whereby you have 
transgressed; and m.ake you a new heart and a 
new spirit^ Repent, for God commands you : 
And the times of this ignorance God winked at ; 
but now commandeth all men every where to re- 
pent: because he hath appointed a day, in which 
he will judge the world in righteousness by that 
man whom he hath ordained.\ Sinner, repent. 
Turn, turn, turn or burn; but O, turn and live: 
why will you die? 



Ezek.33, 11. t Ezek. 18,30-31. t Acts 17, 30-31. 



123 

2. An exhortation to backsliders to return, — 
Some backsliders are quite presumptuous! There 
is vqry little hope of them ! But there are others 
who despair. There is much more hope of these. 
But, however, thank the Lord : both the one and 
the ofher may return, if they will. Backslider, 
backslider, dost thou remember the former times, 
when the candle of the Lord shone upon thy 
head? I know thou dost remember, for ihou 
canst not forget; no : thy right hand can forget 
its cunning before thou canst forget Jerusalem. 
Bless the Lord, he has not yet given up Ephraim. 
He cannot forget the days of thy youth, when it 
was better with thee than now. Poor bleeding 
Ephraim, thou hast been lying among the pots. 
Poor foolish Galatian, something has bewitched 
thee. But thy God solicits thee ; for he remem- 
bers the day of thy espousals, and solicits thee. 
If thou wilt return, he says : I will heal their 
backsliding-, I will love them freely : for mine 
anger is turned away from him* Poor silly 
dove, return to thy ark ; for though the ravens 
may feed on the carcases of the world, thou canst 
not find rest even for the sole of thy foot. Come 
to thy ark, the window open. 

3. An exhortation to penitents to believe. Poor 

* IIos. 14, 4. 



124 

penitent soul, thou hast many fears, many a bitter 
sigh, many a heavy groan. Thou thoughtest thou 
hadst committed the sin against the Holy Ghost. 
Thou thoughtest thy day of grace was gone. — 
Many a time thou hast tried to make thyself bet- 
ter, but now thou findest all is vain. Well, now 
go with all thy "unworthiness, and sinfulness, and 
hardness, and cast thyself just as thou art on the 
atoning blood : 

" And give up every plea beside, 
"Lord I am damn'd; but thou hast died." 

And in that moment God shall speak to thine in- 
most soul, and thy darkness shall turn into day. 
Hear his comfortable words, thou poor weeping 
Mary, thou poor disconsolate Hannah, thou poor 
mourning Peter, thou poor trembling Publican, 
hear him : Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye 
to the waters, and he that hath no money : come 
ye, buy, and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk, 
without money and without price.* 

4. An exhortation to believers to go on to per- 
fection. It becometh the just to be thankful ; be- 
cause justification is a very great and glorious 
gift ; for all the angels in heaven cannot bestow 
the blessing of justification on a man. But though 
thou hast received this great gift at the hands of 

Ms?.. 55, 1. 



125 

the Lord, go on, for thou shalt see greater things 
than these. Thou hast already left Egypt ; and 
seen his arm made bare at the red sea ; and now 
thou eatest manna, sent new from heaven ; and 
drinkest waters from the rock ; but thou art still 
in the wilderness, for thou art not yet come to 
thy perfect rest. But thou shalt come to the 
Canaan of his perfect love, thou shalt pass over 
Jordan, thou shalt know what it is to love the 
Lord thy God, with all thy heart, thou shalt 
walk in the light as he is in the light; for he, thy 
God, is able to divide Jordan, and bring thee in* 
Let us go up at once, and possess this good land 
of perfect love. When the ancient priests were 
about to pass the river, they believed that as soon 
as their feet touched the waters, Jordan would 
be divided and stand on heaps, and so it was. — 
And thou shalt be victorious also, only go in 
faith, and every thing between thee and perfect 
love shall soon give way, and then thou shalt 
dwell in peace, when sin is all destroyed. 

5. An exhortation to the sanctified to press in- 
to the fulness* There is a great difference be- 
tween justification and entire sanctification ; but 
the difference is quite as great between entire 
sanctification and the fulness of the Spirit. This 
fulness is distinctly promised in the word of God ;; 



126 

and it is the duty of every believer in the Lord 
Jesus, to be pressing after it. When a man gets 
into this state, to the stature of a man in Christ 
Jesus, he is but a little lower than the angels. — 
This is the land of Beulah. Those who never 
enjoyed it can have but little conception what it 
is. But however, it is love ; for there is nothing 
in religion higher than love. Brethren, let us go 
on, until we get changed from glory to glory, let 
us go from strength to strength, let us strive to 
shine brighter and brighter, unto the perfect day. 
O how some sanctified souls are pained for more 
of God. Go to his promises and trust them, and 
you will find them, yea, and amen. 

6. An exhortation to all to live holy, and labor 
hard. Holiness is our dispensation, therefore 
let us have Holiness to the Lord written on our 
hearts, thoughts, words, and actions ; because 
our time is a time of holiness, our God is a God 
of holiness, and heaven, which is our home, is a 
place of holiness. Let us live holy, without a 
blemish, spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, — 
And let us labor hard for the salvation of others. 
God, Christ, the Spirit, angels, saints, and sin- 
ners, expect us to labor. Labor for God is rest, 
glorious rest, and it will end in rest at last.- 
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, 



127 

immoveable) always abounding in the work of the 
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is 
not in vain in the Lord.* Finally, brethren, 
farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of 
one mind, live in peace ; and the God of love and 
peace shall be with you.f Amen. 

•1 Cor. 15, 53. t2 3Cor. 1,11, 



FINIS. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAP. I. 

On the Fallen State of Man. 

PAGE. 

I — Man is corrupt, 5 

2 — Man is sinful by practice, . . . « 6 

3— Man is miserable, • 8 

4 — Man is in danger, 10 

5 — Man is helpless, 13 

CHAP. IL 

On the Rich Provision which God has made, unsolicitediy, for 
the Salvation of Men. 

1 — Man is an object of the love of God the Father, .... 17 

2 — Man is redeemed by the mediatorial acts of God the 
Son, ]7 

3 — Man is enlightened and operated upon, by God the 
Holy Ghost, 19 

4 — The ever-blessed triune God offers to all mankind, 
by his gracious word, a free, full, present, and ever- 
lasting salvation, 20 

CHAP. III. 

How a Sinner may get converted to God. 

1 — Get the Knowledge of yourself, 26 

2— Repent, 26 

3 — Believe the Gospel immediately, 27 

CHAP. IV. 
Directions to Young Converts. 

1 — From the moment you are converted, forsake all 

your wicked companions and practices........... 29 



130 CONTENTS. 

2— On the day lhat you are converted, offer yourself to 

meet in some religious society, 3$ 

3 — On the day you are converted, begin family prayer, 31 

4 — As soon as possible, commence praying in private, 32 
5 — After you are converted, read the whole of the 

Scriptures as soon as possible, 33 

6 — Be very punctual in attending all the means of grace 

in the society with which you unite, 34 

7 — Be resolved from the first to redeem your time,.. .. 36 

8 — Reprove sin wherever you see it, 37 

9 — If you be engaged in worldly business, be careful 

to do your duty, 38 

10 — Let your whole life for the future, be a life of faith, 38 
11— Daily make some improvement in knowledge and 

grace, ....... 40 

12 — Live daily in the practice of self-examination, 41 

CHAP. V. 

Proofs, that Justified Believers are not delivered from the re - 

mains of the Carnal Mind. 

] — From experience, 44 

2 — From scripture, 46 

CHAP. VI. 

On Perfect Love, which is generally called entire Sanctification t 
or Christian Perfection. 

1 — Perfect love is attainable in this life, • 48 

2 — Perfect love does not make us absolutely perfect,.. 49 
3 — Perfect love does not make us perfect like angels,. . 49 
4 — Perfect love does not exclude the constant need of 

the atonement, 49 

[J5 — Perfect love does not exclude the possibiliity of 

growing in grace, » 49 

6 — Perfect love does not exclude the possibility of fall- 
ing away, • 50 

7 — Perfect love does not make us complete in know- 
ledge, 50 

8 — Perfect love does not deliver us from the infirmities 

of human nature, , 3 • 50 

9 — Perfect love does not deliver us from the possibility 
of being tempted, 50 



CONTENTS. 131 

10 — The perfect in Jove are saved from all outward sin, 50 

11 — The perfect in love are saved from all sinful tem- 
pers and dispositions, .....«, 51 

12 — The perfect in love are saved from all sinful 

thoughts, 53 

13 — The perfect in love have all the fruits of the Holy 

Spirit, 53 

14 — The perfect in love have no condemnation, 55 

15 — The perfect in love walk in the light, as God is in 

the light, 55 

16 — The perfect in love conform to the will of God in 

all things, , 56 

17 — The perfect in love are most gloriously happy,.. ., 57 

CHAP. VII. 

Proofs, that it is the privilege of all the people of God, to he 
Perfected in Love, or Entirely Sanctified, 

1 — Scripture precepts prove, that you may be perfected 
in love, 58 

2 — Scripture promises prove, that you may be per- 
fected in love, 59 

3 — Scripture prayers prove, that you may be perfected 
in love, 60 

4 — Scripture prophecies prove, that you may be per- 
fected in love * . 61 

5 — Scripture precedents prove, that you may be per- 
fected in love, , • 62 

6 — Scripture invitations prove, that you may be per- 
fected in love, 63 

7 — Scripture exhortations prove, that you may be per- 
fected in love, 64 

8 — Scripture expostulations prove, that you may be 
perfected in love, 65 

9 — The birth, life, death, resurrection, and intercession 

of Christ prove, that you may be perfect in love,.. 66 
10 — The offices of Jesus prove, that you may be perfect 

in love, 68 

11 — The titles of Jesus prove, that you may be perfect 
in love, . ... 70 



132 CONTENTS. 

CHAP. VIII. 

Reasons, why every man should be entirely sanctified to God, 
1 — It is a duty to be entirely sanctified to God, ....... 72 

2 — It is reasonable that every professor of religion be 

sanctified to God entirely, 72 

3 — Entire sanctification will make you more happy, .. 73 
4 — Entire sanctification will make you more useful,. . • 74 
5— Entire sanctification will make you more safe, .... 74 
6 — Entire sanctification will have a more glorious re- 
ward in heaven, • 75 

CHAP. IX. 
How the Justified may get the blessing of Entire Sanctification, 
1 — We must be entirely sanctified to God, by believing 

the suitable truth, c % 76 

2 — To be sanctified by the truth, you must believe it 

according to the directions in the bible, 78 

3 — The sanctifying truths to be believed are exceeding 
clear and plain, 79 

CHAP. X. 
Means by which you may continue Sanctified to God, and grow 
in grace. 
1 — In order to keep yourselves in the love of God, you 

must confess it, 84 

2 — To keep it you must continue to believe, , 84 

3 — To keep it you must live constantly in the Spirit of 

self-denial, • 85 

4 — To keep it you must live in the spirit of watchfulness, 85 
5 — To keep it you must be faithful to the emotions of 

the Holy Ghost, • 85 

6 — To keep it you must read the holy scriptures much, 86 
7 — To keep the blessing of perfect love, you must con- 
stantly aim at growing in grace, 86 

8 — To keep it you must live constantly under a sense 

of the presence of God, ^....«. 87 

9 — To keep it you must constantly give yourself unto 

prayer, 87 

10 — To keep, it you must labour hard for the salvation 

of sinners, 87 



CONTENTS. 133 

CHAP. XL 

It is tlie duty of every Converted Person to labour for God and 
the Salvation of Souls, 

1 — Every aged person that gets converted to God ought 
to labour for the salvation of souls, if he can, .... 88 

2 — Every young person that gets converted to God, 
ought to labour for the salvation of souls in every 
possible way, 89 

3 — Every converted person that has ten talents, ought 
to labour fjr the salvation of souls, 90 

4 — Every converted person that has but one talent, 
ought to labour for the salvation of souls, 91 

5 — Every person ought to labour for God and the salva- 
tion of souls, according to his opportunities and abili- 
ties, in all places, and at all times, as long as he lives, 92 

6 — Every converted person ought to labour for the salva- 
tion of son's, because souls are of an amazing value, S2 

7— Every converted person ought to labour for the salva- 
tion of souls, because souls are liable to be lost, . . 94 

8— Every converted person ought to labour for the sal- 
vation of souls, because if souls be once lost, they 
are lost for ever, 95 

9 — Every converted person ought to labor for the sal- 
vation of souls, because it is possible to save souls 

by labouring, 96 

10 — Every converted person ought to labour for the sal- 
vation of souls, because God designs him to labour, 98 

CHAP. XII. 

On the needful qualifications to fit you for the work of God, 

1 — Get, and always keep a clear evidence of entire 
sanctification, , . 100 

2 — Take care to live before men so that no man can 
lay sin to your charge, 100 

3 — Get a deep concern for the perishing souls of men, 101 

4 — Get clear thoughts on the native badness of the 
human heart, 101 

5 — Closely study the accounts which wo have of revi- 
vals in the New Testament, 102 



134 CONTENTS. 

6-^Get clear apprehensions of the universality of the 

atonement make by Jesus Christ, 103 

7— Get a clear sight of the ability, willingness, and rea- 
diness of God to save, . ........ 7 103 

8— Set it down in your mind, that the Spirit of God 
never works contrary to- the word of God, ..... 103 

9 — Get clear views of the plan of salvation, 104 

10 — Be aware that if you labour for God, you will be 

much tempted by the devil, and persecuted by men, 104 
11 — Always remember, that all saving good is done in 

answer to believing prayer, ............. 105 

12 — Get clear and scriptural views of the doctrine of 
believing, , . . ....... 106 

CHAP. Xllf. 
On the various ways of labouring for the Salvation of Souls. 

1 — Much may be done by praying for sinners in the 
closet, - - - 107 

2 — Much may be done by conversing personally with 
the wicked, ---. .---.. HQ 

3 — Exceeding much may be done in saving souls, by 
the preaching of the gospel, - - - 113 

4 — Much more may be done by holding public prayer 
meetings after preaching, 117 

CHAP. XIV. 
Exhortations to sinners, backsliders, penitents, and believers. 
1 — An exhortation to sinners to repent, --------322 

2 — An exhortation to backsliders to return, - 123 

3 — An exhortation to penitents to believe, - - 123 

4 — An exhortation to believers to go on to perfection, - 124 
5 — An exhortation to the sanctified to press into the 

fulness, 125 

6— An exhortation to all to live holy and labour hard, 126 



t/r* f 



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